NaturalFlow: A Septic Tank Alternative

NaturalFlow vs Septic Tanks

NaturalFlow provides practical and eco-friendly replacements for septic tanks.

As an exceptional septic tank alternative, NaturalFlow is the off-grid wastewater solution for New Zealand’s rural homes and businesses. These robust, power-free sewage treatment systems have very little maintenance requirements and are cost-effective throughout their lifetime, making them good replacements for conventional septic tanks.

At WaterFlow, we're here to help you choose and use the right system for your place. In some situations, a conventional septic tank might be adequate (yes, we do still install those too!). However, more often than not, a NaturalFlow system will have some clear advantages over a basic septic set up. Below are a few comparisons between our NaturalFlow systems and conventional septic tank systems. 

How does a Septic Tank work?

Ever wondered what happens inside a septic tank? One of the oldest and most basic approaches to treating sewage and wastewater is the classic septic tank. In this traditional system all your sewage and wastewater goes into one tank for separation. The solids then sink and settle to the bottom. The lighter oils and fats float to the top to form a scum layer, a process that the ‘industry’ allows 24hrs to fully accomplish. The middle layer then contains the liquid component that is now ideally clear of solids and can be disposed of out to the soakage field.

The issues we experience with this approach is; as the solids and scum layers build up in the tank over time and the middle layer becomes narrower, the passage of wastewater through the tank is faster, so that the separation process is not fully completed.

Septic Tank Smell

This incomplete treatment can result in the foul odours that septic tanks are famous for. Not the kind of scent you want wafting through your backyard when you've got mates over for a BBQ.

Shock loading

The same thing happens when there’s a sudden influx (or shock loading) of sewage and wastewater into your tank. Perhaps everyone's been working/studying from home all week and using extra water, or the whole extended family has come to stay over summer. Again, with the increased loading, the solids do not have time to separate and settle, resulting in solid matter (carry-over) passing through to the disposal fields.

Soakage field damage

This then has a major impact on the soakage fields as the effluent with ‘carry-over’ from the septic tank causes ‘clogging’ or ‘creeping failure’ in the field which can cause pooling or even runoff. This can result in contamination and overflowing trenches, harmful to both humans and animals.

Regular suck outs

Traditional septic tanks need to be pumped out every 3-5 years. The septic tank replacements that NaturalFlow provides requires little to no system maintenance, while still promising to operate at peak performance for years.

The NaturalFlow difference

NaturalFlow presents an innovative septic tank alternative by solving these problems from the start. NaturalFlow’s approach separates the solids and liquid right at the beginning of the treatment process, reducing them down to harmless humus by way of vermiculture and other natural media processes. The liquid, now extremely free of contaminates, is furthered filtered before being returned to the environment.

How It Works

Keeping it simple is our philosophy; using power free natural aerating processes, instead of mechanical pumps etc, to treat wastewater to advanced secondary levels.

Nature is one huge recycling mechanism, and the ‘NaturalFlow System’ works with ‘Nature’ by harnessing these forces, that have been quietly working together for thousands of years to break down and decompose waste all around us, and positioning them in an enclosed eco-system that simulates the forest floor, to treat and break down your wastewater until it is perfectly safe to be re-introduced into the environment, via the soil, and of course – ‘Nature’ does all this, for you, for FREE!

All NaturalFlow Systems are manufactured in NZ by WaterFlow