What is the best alternative septic system for high water tables?
A high water table occurs when groundwater is close to ground level. While heavy rain can cause groundwater to rise, there are other conditions that also lead to high water tables.
High water tables happen most often in:
- Coastal and shoreline regions
Groundwater stays high in coastal regions because the sea constantly refills aquifers. Storm surges and tides also contribute to high water tables.
- Floodplains and low-lying areas
Floodplains are found near streams and rivers. They are easily submerged because they are flat, which leads to high groundwater levels.
- Marshlands and wetlands
Marshes and wetlands naturally form in areas with water-saturated soil. They have dense vegetation that keeps water close to the surface, creating the perfect conditions for high water tables.
- Regions with heavy clay and impermeable soils
Clay soils drain slowly, causing water to stay near the surface for extended periods. This slow drainage leads to high water tables in areas where underlying soils or bedrock also limit infiltration.
- Areas with heavy rain or snow melt
Places with heavy rain or snow have more water entering the ground due to runoff or snowmelt, which raises the water table.
High water tables are common in coastal and shoreline regions.
Why is the Ecoflo compact biofilter the best septic system for high water tables?
Ecoflo compact biofilter on a riverside property with a high water table.
If you have a property with high groundwater, there is a good chance that a traditional septic system would struggle. In that case, you need to find an alternative system to treat your wastewater.
The Ecoflo compact biofilter, manufactured by Premier Tech Water and Environment, is ideal for high water tables because of the way it works and its compact, discreet design.
On properties with high groundwater, septic systems often need a raised drain field to provide enough soil for wastewater infiltration. This setup requires a separate pumping station to move wastewater from your septic tank or treatment components to the raised area, which increases your system’s overall size.
The Ecoflo compact biofilter solves this problem. If a pump is required, it can often be integrated directly in the Ecoflo tank, creating a compact system that is perfectly suited for high water tables.
No eyesores
On properties with high water tables, septic systems with raised drain fields don’t just take up more space — they also require a large, unsightly mound in your yard.
The Ecoflo septic system is different. Most treatment happens in the biofilter rather than the infiltration area. If a raised drain field is required, it will be significantly smaller than one used by other systems.
Ecoflo compact biofilter: if a pump is needed, it can be integrated directly in the tank to save space.
Synthetic media filters are a popular septic system for properties with high water tables in Alberta.
With these systems, a pump sends wastewater from your septic tank to the synthetic media filter. The synthetic media filter removes pollutants from wastewater as it trickles through. Effluent is then discharged to a drain field or another area for final dispersal.
Like the Ecoflo compact biofilter, synthetic media filters offer a space-saving alternative for properties with high groundwater. However, a closer look shows that Ecoflo is the smarter choice.
- Warranty
The warranty for the leading synthetic media filter in Alberta activates the day the system is installed and lasts for 3 years.
By comparison, the Ecoflo compact biofilter has a 10-year warranty that resets each time you renew your filter, guaranteeing your peace of mind for years to come.
- Reliance on pumps
Synthetic media filters rely on a pump to receive wastewater from your septic tank. If the pump fails, there’s no way for the system to continue treating wastewater.
Because Ecoflo provides advanced treatment without the use of pumps or any other electrical component, it reliably treats wastewater year-round, 24/7.
- Finding important information
As a septic system owner, you need to be able to provide documentation about your septic system upon request, such as installation date and proof of maintenance. Because synthetic media filter manufacturers don’t offer a centralized platform with this information, there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to find it.
Premier Tech, the manufacturer of the Ecoflo compact biofilter, offers an online platform that keeps all your septic system’s information in one place. This makes it easy to find details about your system’s installation date, maintenance history, and more.
Ecoflo compact biofilter: gravity installations use no pumps, and treatment is 100% electricity-free.
Geotextile sand filters are a popular alternative on properties with high water tables in British Columbia.
These systems use an external pump to send wastewater to the top of a sand mound. From there, wastewater percolates through a geotextile layer that traps pollutants. Wastewater then goes through a sand layer for additional treatment before entering an underlying drain field.
Geotextile sand filters are installed directly above the drain field, making them easy to install on properties with high water tables and limited space. But Ecoflo has the edge for a few reasons.
- Low profile
As their name implies, geotextile sand filters use geotextile and sand to provide advanced treatment. Because these systems are installed over the drain field, they add extra height to the installation and stick out on your property.
Ecoflo’s advanced treatment happens in a tank that’s separate from the drain field. This gives Ecoflo installations a lower profile and makes them up to 25 cm (10”) shorter on properties with a high water table.
- Easy to troubleshoot
Since geotextile sand filters are buried under a sand mound, you can’t go in and fix them if there’s a problem. The only way to reach them is to dig them out, at which point you will likely need to get a new system.
The Ecoflo compact biofilter is easily accessible thanks to its lid. When it’s time for service or maintenance, we simply open the lid to get direct access to your system’s components.
- No pumps needed
Geotextile sand filters rely on pumps to get wastewater to the top of the sand mound and continue treatment, which means they can’t treat your wastewater if the pump loses power or stops working.
That isn’t a problem with Ecoflo. It doesn’t use pumps or any other electrical components to treat wastewater, ensuring your property is protected, even during power outages.
Ecoflo compact biofilter: zero-energy treatment thanks to a non-mechanical tipping bucket that distributes wastewater over the coco filter.
