FAQs

What Is An ATU?

An ATU (Aerobic Treatment Unit) is a septic micro-processing and waste water recycling system. It takes all effluent from the waste plumbing of a building and processes it to a high standard. The resultant water is suitable to be reused on approved reticulation areas. The system is based on complementary mechanical and bacterial processes. Its efficient function requires healthy bacteria in the unit

Which Systems Do You Service And Maintain?

As a Department of Health authorised ATU service provider, we are trained and certified on a wide range of ATU systems, ensuring the mandatory servicing and reporting requirements to the Local Government Authority are completed in full.

ATU's and AWTS we service include Aquarius, Advantex, Biocycle, Biomax, Biosystems 2000, Ecomax, Fujiclean and Taylex. If you don’t see your system listed here talk to us, we regularly up our skills and accreditation on makes and models, new and old. 

 What’s That Horrible Smell And What Can I Do About It?

There a whole bunch of reasons why your aerobic treatment unit system might be smelly. One of the main reasons we come across is an unhealthy flora overgrowth in the system caused by pouring the wrong kinds of liquids down the drain. If working correctly, an ATU should have minimal or zero offensive odours. A bad smell is a sign of either a mechanical or bacterial malfunction. Ecowater Services are here to maintain the balance of an ATU’s health.

Your Aerobic Treatment Unit requires a healthy bacterial environment to breakdown effluent. If the “digestive balance” in the system is out of whack it won’t be able to do its job properly. Much like our own gut flora works in our digestive systems. 

The golden rule of ATU ownership is to only use your toilet to flush what it was intended to flush. That means avoiding putting liquids down the drain including fats, bleach, optical brighteners, ammonia, perfumes, “flushable wipes” and some types of toilet paper just for starters. For a comprehensive list, visit our website or download our free PDF handy reference guide which you can keep at the sink, in the laundry and on the back of the toilet door.

So, If I Shouldn’t Use Regular Cleaning Chemicals And Toilet Paper In My Home Or Business, What Should I Use Instead?

Ecowater Services use and recommend the range of Enviroplus cleaning products which have been specifically designed to improve the efficiency and function of your ATU in both commercial and home settings. We also use and recommend Puregiene recycled toilet tissue. Enviroplus and Puregiene can be purchased through our easy to use webshop - We ship Australia wide.

How Often Does My ATU Require Servicing?

The Health Department of Western Australia requires all homeowners and commercial property owners to enter into a regular maintenance agreement with a certified service technician. Generally maintenance is required quarterly but can vary depending on the type of system you own.

How Can I Stop My ATU From Malfunctioning?

·      Practice the Golden Rule of ATU Ownership mentioned above in point 2.

·      Do not turn off mains power to the unit to save electricity. If the pump is switched off, your ATU will not be able to do its job. 

·      Seasonally, do a garden check and whipper snip around the ATU site.

What Is A Pump-Out And Why Do I Need One?

Eventually, even after the system has done its job, the tank will get full. The time it takes to fill varies, depending of the number of people using the facilities and especially if you haven’t been taking care to ensure that only what is meant to go down the drain, does go down the drain.

Using complementary cleaning products and paper goods and practicing the Golden Rule of ATU ownership will ensure that you can plan in advance for the cost of a Total System Evacuation (TSE) or pump-out.