High amounts of suspended solids in a pressurized onsite system can quickly clog the lateral piping that supplies the drainfield, reducing the effectiveness of the drainfield and even causing total failure in some situations. 

Sim/Tech designed and developed the STF-100 line of pressure filters to counter this issue. “Placing an effluent filter just before entering the force main of the pressurized septic system is an extremely effective solution,” says Darrell Maves, operations manager for Sim/Tech. “The pressure filters are mounted on the discharge side of the pump so they are filtering the effluent at the best possible point in the process, right before it enters the dispersal field.”

According to Sim/Tech, the inherent design of effluent pumps creates an on-and-off scrubbing action caused by shock waves as the effluent pump works. That action is strongest near the pump where the filter is positioned. The high-flow rates and low-pressure loss of the pressure filter are achieved by a large filter area with more than 40% of the filter screen being open. “The pressure filter handles flows over 80 gpm,” Maves says. “So, even a partially contaminated wastewater filter will keep virtually any pressurized distribution system functioning properly.” 

The STF-100 line of filters is constructed using a PVC housing with an internal screen made from 316L stainless steel with 0.062-inch diameter holes. The filter cartridge is 3 inches in diameter and 18 inches long. Optional filter socks are also available if users require more fine filtering. 

Maintaining the filter is as easy as unscrewing the cap and rinsing off the screen or changing the filter sock depending on the filter version.

Maves says the company has received many positive comments about the filter’s variety of applications. “Some have used it on problem jobs that maybe they were having to jet out laterals on a regular basis. Some have used it to pre-filter disc filters, reducing the frequency of the time-consuming maintenance that those require,” he says.

Maves says many installers put them on all of their pressurized systems and have expressed the peace of mind they experience knowing that if something goes wrong in the system, at least the disposal field will be protected by the filter. “We have often referred to the filter as the last line of defense,” he says. 231-582-1020; www.simtechfilterinc.com