Septic tank systems are common throughout rural Australia providing an economic and low maintenance method of treating your household liquid waste. There are three types of systems used in Far North Queensland:
- Septic tank with soakage or transpiration trenches. This is what most people would consider the traditional septic tank system and is the most common type of septic system in use in the areas around Port Douglas and Mossman. These systems allow for less frequent maintenance than other systems, however overdue pumping can result in expensive repairs.
- Sewerage treatment facilities. These systems don’t rely on soakage trenches but require servicing every three months.
- AES (Advanced Enviro Septic) systems are now very popular. They use a different method of treating the waste compared to traditional systems but still require a leach field. These systems should be pumped out every 3-5 years.