Since water was declared a scarce resource, Australians have taken it upon themselves to recycle wastewater produced in their households for two reasons. First, recycling wastewater reduces the reliance on groundwater, saving aquifers from running dry. Second, it reduces household bills, since homeowners use less mains water supplied by the municipal council. A common question that homeowners ask when planning to install a wastewater treatment system is about the cost. Understanding factors that influence the amount of money you will invest in the system affects decision-making.
Level of Automation
Domestic wastewater treatment systems come in two options: high-level and low-level automation. A higher level of automation typically runs independently, and it does not need user input. It means that wastewater and other effluents will flow through the treatment system and come out clean on the other end, with little effort. This type of wastewater treatment system is costly due to the controls and instrumentation required. If you rely on solar energy to run the system, the overall cost will reduce over time. A system with a lower level of automation requires less capital to install. However, you need to operate it manually to ensure that wastewater is efficiently treated. Therefore, it is advisable to install a system with a higher automation level because it is easier to operate.
Quality of Effluent
Another factor that you need to consider when determining the cost of a domestic wastewater treatment system is the quality of effluent from your home. It refers to the level of contaminants present in your wastewater. Some homeowners want to pass solid waste, oils, grease, and wastewater through a treatment plant. This requires a robust system that is well-equipped to separate solid waste and other wastewater contaminants. However, the system is costly, and it requires proper maintenance to prevent premature damage. Systems designed to process wastewater that is free of solid waste and other contaminants are less expensive.
Amount of Wastewater to be Processed
The wastewater flow rate from your plumbing determines how hard a wastewater treatment system works and the size of the storage tank. Typically, if you want to treat less wastewater per day, you are looking at a low flow rate. It means that the domestic wastewater system you install needs a smaller tank, which is less costly. However, if your household produces a lot of wastewater that needs to be processed within a short time, then the system requires a larger holding tank, leading to high installation costs.
