Septic systems fail because the soil becomes saturated and oxygen starved 

• Saturated soil stops the flow of air into the ground, creating anaerobic bacteria (biomat). 

• As long as the soil remains wet, anaerobic bacteria will multiply and biomat will cover more area.

• This domino effect will continue until the entire surface is covered with biomat, resulting in failure. 

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Experts agree the best way to stop biomat is by increasing the

amount of oxygen reaching the soil below the distribution system. 

• The first thing needed to increase oxygen is reduce the system burial depth.   

• The second thing is disperse the wastewater so it comes in contact with more surface area. 

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Gravelless systems that store water (chambers, polypropylene peanuts)

repeatedly dose the same area, which effectively reduces the size the of the field.

• When large amounts of water are used over a short period of time (laundry, baths/showers)                                      or a leaking faucet or toilet douse the field it becomes saturated. 

• Because these systems create a dome effect, it is harder for oxgen to reach the saturated surface. 

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GeoMat reduces the storage area, which results in wastewater coming in contact more surface area. 

• When storage area is reduced, water travels quickly down through the sand beneath the mat resulting                      in different levels of sand being saturated only briefly, if at all. 

• When effluent infiltrates sand & soil, it pulls air down behind it allowing liquids or gas to pass through it,          creating a dry, well-aerated environment. 

• A well-aerated environment increases treatment efficiencies (GeoMat reduces BOD and TSS levels below                the requirement levels neededto qualify as a 'advanced treatment' system for residential wastewater). 

• Anaerobic bacteria cannot exist in dry, well-aerated environment.