A few years ago, I encountered a non-traditional septic system in Passaic County, New Jersey. The system was installed in a high-groundwater area—a stream ran along the property line—and the backyard was small. It was a mounded septic system with:
- One settling tank
- A pump dosing tank
- A small pressure leach field
A Unique Addition: The Pirana System
What made this setup unique was the installation of a Pirana System, a submerged attached growth bioreactor (SAGB). This aerobic septic system modification turned what would have been a traditional anaerobic system (without oxygen) into an oxygenated system.