This article is part of a series focusing on available technology to monitor septic system performance. As technology continues to evolve and costs come down, these tools will provide more in-depth information and should be considered by designers, regulators, installers and service providers. The third system we will investigate is Anua’s i/o.site.

This system provides performance monitoring of electromechanical components through a web-based interface. The monitoring panel you see in Figure 1 is typically located near the control panel and is connected using a standard Ethernet cable. Remote sites can be connected via a cellphone to an Ethernet router. The system can be used to remotely monitor a blower, aerator, pump, float switch, or motor, regardless of type or model. The residential version can sense up to three motors and three alarms. The system stores these readings from the wastewater treatment system throughout the life of the system. Septic professionals can examine these readings for irregularities from either a computer or smartphone.

It tracks water use, catches motor issues before failure, uses any mobile device or computer, and monitors any powered onsite system. It should save on maintenance trips since much of the system performance can be evaluated remotely.

Case Study

The i/o.site system was installed for a mobile home park in upstate New York. It has a 12,000 gpd conventional septic system with duplex pumps to a drainfield. The system is used to monitor the pumps and flows. There was a spike in water usage on a very cold night where owners were trickling water to prevent pipe freezing. Therefore, a discussion with the owner was in order to advise against this practice. The second spike was warm temperatures causing snowmelt, and the monitor picked up inflow & infiltration (see upper right corner of Figure 2), indicating that there is leakage into the collections system or tanks that needs repair. Without this monitoring, the system would continue to be overloaded, which could lead to a malfunction or reduced longevity.

The amperage of the pumps is monitored using a “donut” (Figure 3). The donuts are placed around the hot lead wire of a motor. Discharge pump 1 is pulling a little high on amperage, as it should be 15.5 or below (Figure 2). This indicates the pump needs service and/or replacement. This allows the service provider to schedule a service visit instead of responding to an alarm.  

Key features of the system:

• Track water use.
• Catch motor issues before failure.
• Use any mobile device or computer.
• Monitor any powered onsite system.
• Set up in under 30 minutes.

The i/o.site system enables users to view data related to the performance of the system, alarm or service conditions, and excessive use — making it an effective tool for monitoring system performance and preventing problems.

---

About the author
Sara Heger, Ph.D., is an engineer, researcher and instructor in the Onsite Sewage Treatment Program in the Water Resources Center at the University of Minnesota. She presents at many local and national training events regarding the design, installation, and management of septic systems and related research. Heger is education chair of the Minnesota Onsite Wastewater Association and the National Onsite Wastewater Recycling Association, and she serves on the NSF International Committee on Wastewater Treatment Systems. Ask Heger questions about septic system maintenance and operation by sending an email to kim.peterson@colepublishing.com.

This article is part of a series on monitoring technology:

• New Methods for System Monitoring: Part 2
• New Methods for System Monitoring: Part 1
• New Methods for System Monitoring: Part 3
• New Methods for System Monitoring: Part 4