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Jet Inc., BAT (C) Media Septic System Tank Details - adapted from jetincorp.com at InspectApedia.comBAT® Septic System Design, Maintenance, Repair

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about BAT - Biologically Accelerated Treatment Septic Systems used for private onsite wastewater and graywater treatment & disposal

BAT - Biologically Accelerated Treatment Septic Systems:

BAT septic systems use a combination of three-chambered or in some cases four-chambered septic tank consisting of an entry or pre-treatment chamber that separates large solid waste, one or two center chamber(s).

Each chamber contains an aerobic aerator system and a biologically-accelerated treatment media that increases the level of wastewater treatment, and a final settling chamber that permits final solid settlement before discharging effluent to the wastewater absorption system.

This septic system article series describes all of the types of batch, media & aerobic septic systems alternative septic system designs for difficult building sites such as wet sites, steep sites, rocky sites, limited space, bad soils with no percolation or sandy soils with too fast percolation, and other difficult site conditions.

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Design, Maintenance & Troubleshooting for Biologically Accelerated Septic Systems - BAT Septics

Jet (C) Media septic system tank schematic - adapted from Ohio DOH & Jet Inc. manual - InspectApedia.com & www.jetincorp.com 2016

Illustrated at the top of this page and in sketch at above/left and adapted from the manufacturer's illustration is the J-1500 Series BAT® [Septic] Media Plants (with Model 952 UV) is an onsite wastewater treatment system that combines an aerobic aeration pump (or two of them) in a three- or four-compartment septic tank along with a media located in the center tank(s) to achieve a high level of wastewater treatment.

Jet Inc.'s system is illustrated at the top of this page, and the Ohio state Department of Health has posted the company's BAT Plant owners manual online to encourage proper system maintenance.

The company provides two septic tank designs that accommodate a range of daily wastewater flow:

Jet BAT models 500-, 600, 750 or 800 gallon per day (gpd of wastewater flow) use a three-compartment septic tank comprised of a pretreatment chamber into which raw wastewater flows, a center treatment chamber that combines a septic media with an aerobic pump, and a third settling chamber to permit final floating solids settlement before clarified effluent is discharged from the septic tank to the absorption field.

The third (or fourth in some designs) settlement chamber is open at its bottom to allow settled solids to flow back into the center chamber (s) where the aerobic and media system is agitating and treating the wastewater. This design means that the final settling chamber is excluded from septic tank pumping during service.

[Click to enlarge any image at InspectApedia]

The BAT septic system may also include a final disinfection state using UV light or possibly the injection of a disinfectant, or both. A final effluent disinfection step in the Jet Bat Media septic system includes a UV light in some of these designs, Jet's Model 952 UV.

Some similar septic treatment units may use a disinfectant injection system instead of a UV lamp.

BAT systems may also require occasional addition of bacterial cultures used to repopulate the bacteria in the system if the system is left out of use for a prolonged period.

Jet BAT septic system models 1000, 1250, and 1500 handle gpd wastewater flow rates in those ranges and according to the company have been tested for conformity with NSF Standard 40 criteria for Class 1 NSF listed septic systems.

The combination of an aerobic septic pump (or two of them in the larger four-chamber design) provide higher levels of oxygen induced into the wastewater to accelerate the activity of microorganisms (principally bacteria) that in turn processes the biological component of sewage waste to provider "a high level of treatment" of the daily wastewater flow through the system.

A Jet - BAT septic system control panel is installed to monitor the condition of the system and includes both a visual alarm (red light) and an audible one (a buzzer) that warn the homeowner if the aerator pump electrical circuit has shut down (presumably by a tripped circuit breaker).

Watch out: This BAT control panel alarm is a critical warning that should not be ignored by homeowners, as without the aerator pump the system will stop successfully treating wastewater and with continued use, system failure may be imminent.

Contact your system dealer if the alarm sounds repeatedly.

This system is designed to operate properly with a six-month inspection or service interval. Periodic cleaning is needed and if the system is not used for a prolonged interval (presumably 3 months or longer) because it should be left running, the manufacturer may recommend the addition of a manufacturer-provided dry-pack of inoculating bacteria.

Watch out: some septic system designs use fragile media or media filters for which service should be performed only by properly trained or certified septic service companies.

The design and owners' manual for Jet's BAT Septic System include such a warning. Failure to properly protect media or filters from damage during septic tank pumping or cleaning can cause costly damage to the system and may prevent its proper operation.

Make sure you notify your Jet Distributor before you have your tank pumped. If the tank pumper is not familiar with Jet’s media and media has not been cleaned before pumping, severe damage to the media can occur.

This is potentially costly to repair. - Jet Inc., 2016 cited below in the owners manual to which you referred in subsequent postings and that's provided online by the Ohio Department of Health.

Also see these articles on septic tank or system treatments, maintenance, and protection that have added advice for Jet's BAT septic system owners. .

Reader Question: septic pumper says a BAT septic tank cannot be pumped without damage

2016/05/14 Matt said:

I have Jet 1500 Series Bat Media Plant. Was told by guy pumping tank that they wont pump tank with aerator because bat's fall in and its a defect in system. Is this true?

Reply:

Matt I don't quite understand the question. Certainly septic systems that use an aerator still need to be cleaned of settled sludge on occasion;

I don't know what you mean about "bat's fall in" nor what a bat is doing in the septic tank. I think you refer to Jet Inc.'s BAT septic system design - we'll include your question and our reply and discussion [here] in BAT MEDIA SEPTIC PLANTS

Watch out: As the Ohio Department of Health points out

Most sewage systems will fail sometime. Just like the roof on your house, a septic system is designed to have a lifetime of about 20-30 years, under the best conditions.

Eventually, the soil around the absorption field becomes clogged with organic material, making the system unusable.

But by far the most common reason for early failure is improper maintenance by homeowners. When a system is poorly maintained and not pumped out on a regular basis, sludge (solid material) builds up inside the septic tank, then flows into the absorption field, clogging it beyond repair. (Ohio DOH 2016, seeReferences or Citations )

Reader follow-up:

Matt said:
Sorry, I am referring to the baffles that are on the walls of the aeration tank.

www.odh.ohio.gov/~/media/ODH/ASSETS/files/eh/sts/P-Jet-1500%20Series%20BAT%20Media%20Plants-Ownman-952%20UV

I am being told if that tank is pumped out those baffles could fall in leaving the company that is pumping tank liable for the repair.

Meaning they would have to dig up tank to repair. I was told this is a defect in the design of this "Jet 1500 Series Bat Media Plant" system.

I was trying to research to see if this is true. I have to question if there is truly a design flaw, would there not be information somewhere on what is required to fix it?

Would there not be some sort of warranty for a 6 year old system? Or, am I being fooled by the company I called out to pump my system?

Moderator reply: BAT septic system maintenance must be done by a properly-trained pumper as the media is fragile

Matt:

Watch out: we may be snarled up in confusion about terminology. Take a look at the page top adapatation of Jet's BAT system tank.

  1. Septic tank baffles

    are pipe tees (in this design) at tank or tank compartment entry and exit ports; baffles are usually cemented in place and have the job of keeping floating solids in the source compartment.

    This is particularly critical in keeping solids from flowing out of the tank to the drainfield (causing clogging) and in the BAT design are probably critical in keeping large solids in the first tank chamber to avoid fouling up the BAT media itself or the aerobic pump.
  2. Septic tank BAT Media (Biologically Accelerated Treatment)

    shown in Jet's BAT design is a gride-like "media" component that is basically providing a large surface area to enhance bacterial action on the wastewater in the center treatment tank chamber(s).

    The company warns against damaging the BAT Media during pumping, and it might be that this is what your septic pumper is worried about.

    But if there is actually a problem of the BAT Media collapsing or falling out of its proper position in the septic tank simply when the wastewater is removed during tank cleaning that would be a serious concern that needs to be addressed. I've asked Jet for technical comment in hopes we can clarify this question.

In any case, taken at face value your septic pumper is partly correct. The owners' manual for your BAT system does not prohibit pumping and in fact pumping or cleaning of the tank at intervals is recommended; rather it warns that if the system is pumped by someone who is not expert in the care of this system design the media in the tank can be severely damaged and require costly repair.

Here is what the Ohio Health Department's copy of Jet Inc.'s BAT Owners Manual (cited below) describes:

From the manual I infer that your pumper may have used confusing language in discussing the concern with you.

The "BAT" media is what seems to be fragile - not the "baffles" that are found at the tank inlet and outlet ports. This is a multi-compartment septic tank with an aerator and a UV light.

Septic tank baffles

in this design using PVC piping Tees - are a critical component in all septic tanks that keeps floating solids in the proper tank or tank compartment. Usually the baffles are cemented or sealed in place in the tank opening, and don't "fall out". But there might be a loose baffle problem with this tank.

Watch out: As I am not closely familiar with this septic tank and as the company's instructions and contact information have been published by the Ohio DOH, I would be very reluctant to disagree with your septic pumper about specific septic system design problems with which they are familiar. I would never ask a contractor to do something that they don't want to do and of which they warn of a damage concern.

Instead I suggest that you contact the company to ask for advice about this question.

There are indeed special instructions required for pumping the system and particular care is taken when pumping the media section of the tank.

You will read that the tank is indeed to be pumped from two of its three sections, but that special care is taken not to damage the media during pumping. If the pumper believes that she or he simply cannot pump the tank without touching the media with the pumper hose, the certainly you should not ask that company to do so. Here are excerpts from the instructions to which you referred:

Watch out: If your septic pumper does not know how to pump and clean this system following the manufacturer's instructions, you might want to contact Jet Inc., to ask for a referral to a local service company who does know their system.

Jet Inc 750 Alpha Dr. Cleveland, OH 44143 USA Phone: (440) 461-2000 Fax: (440) 442-9008 email@jetincorp.com www.jetincorp.com

This information has been adapted from the Ohio health department's public information and from Jet Inc.'s BAT system owners' manual as published in the public domain by the Ohio department of health and cited just below.

InspectAPedia is an independent publisher of building, environmental, and forensic inspection, diagnosis, and repair information provided free to the public - we have no business nor financial connection with any manufacturer or service provider discussed at our website.

BAT Septic System Costs, Research & Information Sources


Reader Question: On 2018-05-29 by Richard Laird - what does a BAT septic cost?

I am looking for prices for a BAT septic system and if it can be used in Allegheny County, Pa.

This Q&A were posted originally

at SEPTIC SYSTEM TYPES

On 2018-05-29 by (mod) - prices for a BAT septic system

Richard

Take a look at BAT MEDIA SEPTIC PLANTS where there are some sources and citations in the article and in that article's REFERENCES section.

Typical additional costs for a BAT media septic plant start at around $10,000 to $15,000 above a conventional septic system that fits your site. The base cost that you have to add to those numbers vary so considerably by country and city or province or state that I'm reluctant to promise a more-specific estimate when we know nothing about your specific site.

Really? well yes and no. A typical septic tank cost is around $1200. U.S. for the tank - before installation costs that vary by site conditions. The costs we give above for BAT septics are for a complete system including effluent disposal.


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