The video attached is a video of a Nu Water Aerobic Treatment Plant by Enviro-flo.
The reason we need to have this level of treatment was for the stream and high ground water in this area. Â We need to protect our surface and ground water from contamination. Â The neighbors well is pretty close as well, so in order to have a home this close this homeowner agreed to have annual maintenance to this system.
Now annual maintenance does not mean it needs pumped out every year. Â It just needs monitoring to ensure that we are not contaminating surface and ground water.
We take DO (Dissolved Oxygen) measurements. Â This tells us how much Oxygen is dissolved into the water for the Aerobic Bacteria. Â A low DO reading would indicate that something was wrong, and I would need to diagnose what.
We also take a Turbidity measurement as well.  Turbidity is a measurement of how much particulates are in the water being released into the drainfield.  It is measured in NTU or Nephelometric Turbidity Units.  Basically our meter passes light through the sample as is able to tell how much light makes it to the receiver.  If the sample is foggy, it will be a high reading.  In this case, it’s near drinking water.  .77 NTU or less than 1 NTU.
This system here is Level B treatment. Â There is no Disinfection unit to clean or take care of, because this site didn’t require Level A Treatment.
Also, this system is functioning perfectly. Â And will continue to do so as long as it is maintained. Â It is normal to pump out the first two compartments every 2-3 years or so. Â As to not have excessive solids build up in the plant.
Also note: this is a wastewater treatment plant. Â Not too unlike a commercial plant like your city wastewater treatement plant. Â The commercercial plant has operators there 24 hours a day 7 days a week monitoring it’s levels and ensuring the community and the environment that it is releasing pure water into the rivers and streams.
This client’s plant is a “Residential” version of the “Commercial” plant. Â It is agreed that once per year should be okay for maintenance. Â But make no mistake about it. Â This system was very expensive and will not “Self Clean” or “Take Care” of itself.
The repairs to a plant that is neglected can reach 10’s of thousands of dollars. Â And 100% of the time, the client won’t know damage is being done, until it’s too late and toilets no longer flush, or sewage is backing up in the yard.
Annual inspections only run $110 dollars in Clark County, Wa.  All of our rates are clearly posted on our website at http://www.firstcallseptic.com/rates/
If anyone has any other questions or needs advice, please feel free to send me an email, or leave a comment here.
Thanks for reading,
Ronnie
10 comments
Are three tanks required for this Nu Water system, and what is the cost for the tanks only?
There are many configurations for the Nu Water Setup. Each one is pretty Designer specific to the property. Have you contacted a Septic Designer yet? You can find an approved list at your local County Health Department.
Thanks for writing,
Ronnie
We have a Nu Water Aerobic System and have noticed it isn’t using bleach like it did before, our contract just expired as well. Not sure what to do or who to call any suggestions?
Hi Cindy,
Your Nu Water must be using a device that chlorinates the wastewater. We don’t use those in our area as we use UV Lights. I would contact your local health department and they would give you a list of certified providers that can fix it for you.
Thanks so much for writing,
Ronnie
Thanks so much Ronny for this explanation. We are contingent now on a new home that has a similar system and now seeing it here I feel a lot better about what we’re getting ourselves into as far as maintenance goes. We’ll likely be giving you a call for the inspection soon.
Hi Kayla,
Not a problem. I love this world. 🙂
Question. How does this Nu water system compare to the whitewater?
Hi Kayla,
I don’t know how your question got by me for so long, but where to begin?
Nu Water and Whitewater are simply two different models, trying to accomplish the same task. Kind of like Chevrolet and Ford. Both vehicles get you from point a to b.
Nu Water and Whitewater are aerobic treatment devices that need to be taken care of, by the occupants of the home, so they can do their jobs. Getting our wastewater to near drinkable state before dispersal.
Both run great, and both have Achilles Heals. Both manufacturers will tell you they are far superior than the other. But here’s the facts.
Both systems will require maintenance. Both systems have many moving parts that will wear out and break. Both systems have blowers running 24 hours per day costing you money in electricity. Both systems put out near clear/drinkable water as the water being released into the environment.
Whitewater systems seem to have the need for more UV or Chlorination disinfection than Nu Water.
Nu Water has stone emitters that have to be cleaned annually. *Don’t listen to manufacturer on this one, they’ll tell you they don’t need cleaned, and if they do, it’s the occupant* But it’s true, clean them annually or they’ll not work right, and you could put too “dirty” of water into you final dispersal component and cause premature failure of your dispersal.
Nu Water also does better at denitrification than Whitewater. Denitrification is a process in which the device removes nitrogen. We want to be doing this for our environment.
Wow, and I am not even sure I answered your question here.
But let’s put it this way. If I was building a house, I would build somewhere where the land didn’t require such an expensive system. These are expensive to buy. Expensive to maintain. And expensive to operate.
But if I had no other alternative. I love the land, or I just have to build on the river. Or some setback such as these. Then Nu Water would be my choice. But put a 750 gallon septic tank in front of it. In our area, we have found that putting in a 750 gallon septic tank in front of the Nu Water has significantly helped the discharge of the water, going to drainfield, to be nearly as clean as well/city water.
Thanks so much for the question, and for writing,
Ronnie
Our aerobic Nuwater system was installed 21 months ago and there is now a leak in a seam and in heavy down pours it runs into the tank with the float and the alarm goes off. The company that installed it says I have to pay to have it fixed. It looked like a trouble spot to me as there is good size gobs of sealer inside the tank in that spot. Just where are the seams located? and what kind of sealer is used? And why are there seams in the first place?
Thanks
Hi Ken,
I am sorry that you are having a problem with your Nu Water. I would look through the paperwork you signed on this tank. I am pretty sure that there is a 2 year warranty on this tank.
But also, I would get a second opinion on the diagnosis. This doesn’t seem right to me for a Nu Water. If you don’t mind, can you email me your design and I can look through it?
Let’s get this problem solved before your warranty expires.
ronnie@firstcallseptic.com