MINIMAL MAINTENANCE The only maintenance required on the Bubbler system is replacing the chlorine every month and the bacteria every three months
A locally developed septic tank sewerage system, the Bubbler Water Efficiency System, can recycle different types of water while reducing the amount of accumulated solid waste, says Cape Town-based wastewater treatment company Bubbler.
Bubbler regional development manager Wessel Muller tells Engineering News it took the company six years to perfect the system, which can treat black and grey water to comply with the general standards published in the Government Gazette.
The Bubbler system was designed by company CEO Piet Nel, director Wikus Muller and marketing director Marcus Banga before being trialled at a Paarl-based farm as part of a pilot project for the Drakenstein municipality.
“There is nothing like the Bubbler system in South Africa,” says Muller, adding that similar products are available overseas, but they cannot compare with Bubbler’s pricing and ability to treat black and grey water. “Most systems treat the black and grey water separately.”
The Bubbler system can also be converted for use in existing septic tank systems without major infrastructure changes. It uses three main components – a Septic Boss and a Moss Fibre Filter, which are unique and were both developed by Bubbler, as well as a distribution tank.
“Our system is a sewerage works on a small footprint that requires low electricity consumption to operate,” says Muller. The system uses a combination of an aerobic process, with a special Bubbler bacteria blend to break down the solids, while the patented flow design of the system ensures a good-quality effluent.
He adds that the Bubbler system is an ideal solution for rural, informal or farming communities that do not have access to bulk sewerage networks. “Our system can save local municipalities and government lots of money on the upgrading of existing sewerage works or the installation of new works, as the system cleans, reuses and recycles all black and grey water. Not only is this positive for the disposal of sewerage, but it is also a massive water saving system.”
How It Works
Muller describes the Septic Boss as a unit that creates an environment in which the Bubbler-blend bacteria can grow and multiply, feeding on all incoming waste, with “millions of micro-organisms subsequently populating inside it.”
As the process progresses, the facultative biomass becomes trapped and feeds on the incoming waste flowing through the Septic Boss area. “By treating the water in our ducting tank with a specially designed moss fibre chlorinator filter, we ensure the removal of harmful E.coli before the recycled water can be reused for applications such as flushing and irrigation,” he says.
Muller adds that, alternatively, recycled water can be discharged into the environment, with no harmful impact on ecosystems.
The Septic Boss also creates an environment in which bacteria attaches to waste and is then aerated. “Feeding the unit with air agitates the wastewater and solid material. This assists in rotating material through the unit, accelerating the treatment of the wastewater and helping to break down solid material,” he says.
A specifically designed air compressor supplies the air required for this process. “The Septic Boss alleviates the need for the manual mixing of waste material. The bacteria in the unit are protected and solids are less likely to be washed out of the system during periods when the system is heavily used,” says Muller.
The recycled water is also dechlorinated by letting air into it.
The Bubbler system is available in three plastic tank sizes of 1 400 ℓ, 2 200 ℓ and 3 600 ℓ, as well as in 5 500 ℓ and 11 000 ℓ concrete tank versions. Bigger systems can also be designed, depending on client specifications.
Owing to the system’s airlift design, the contents of a 3 600 ℓ Bubbler system is circulated 20 to 30 times a day through the Septic Boss unit, creating the highest treatment potential of any aerobic septic system, according to Muller.
“A typical 3 600 ℓ system can service 30 people a day, each with an average water use of 120 ℓ,” he says.
The only maintenance required is replacing the chlorine every month and the bacteria every three months. Further, the pumping of solid material is necessary only after 12 to 15 years of use.
Versatile Application
The Bubbler system can also be used in emergency applications, such as places where flooding has destroyed sewerage infrastructure, disaster relief centres and refugee camps, owing to its flexibility and portability.
The company can also provide movable ablution block facilities to use with the Bubbler system.
The Bubbler system can be used at any new development where there is no bulk sewerage connections or where it is not possible to connect to a main sewerage line.