Article By Bruce Hardboss, PE

BioSTEP® screened pumping schemes are versatile ticker packet designed to transferral screened liquid in numerous size-diam, decentralized accumulation applications. BioSTEP® is a registered trademark of Bio-MICROBICS.  Bio-MICROBICS claims the following; “BioSTEP® screened pumping systems are designed so that once installed, all normal operation and maintenance can occur without the messy removal of system components. BioSTEP screened pump vaults utilize the patented SaniTEE® screening technology to screen and deflect solids rather than collect and hold them like other filtering technologies. ” (see http://www.biomicrobics.com/?p=67&s=10) This article is the sole property of BnB Alternative Septic Solutions, LLC and does not necessarily reflect NORWECO’s position. We feel that our evaluation is technically correct and we welcome constructive comments.

At BnB Alternative Septic Solutions, LLC our registered professional CIVIL Engineers prefer simple NORWECO grinder pump configuration(s) or the robust BK-2000 filtration system followed by a standard NORWECO pump unit. Bio-MICROBICS advocates their BioSTEP® product as superior to filtration systems. We strongly feel that for flows up to 2000 GPD, a BK-2000 system provides robust filtration and is a simpler approach when compared to the BioSTEP® system. We also feel that adding grinder pump units to a standard septic tank outlet is also a “more simple design.”

Either a NORWECO pump vault or a simple grinder pump installation in the septic tank fluids compartment or a BK-2000 filtration unit paired with a standard lift pump unit will give comparable performance and possibly increased reliability. We have seen very few problems with particle clogging.

We recommend adding NORWECO Bio-Gem organic digester or Bio-PERC to the wastewater up-stream to promote solids breakdown to any configuration, including the BioSTEP®. A typical NORWECO pump package would be as noted below:

Typical NORWECO Pump Package

(There are multiple configurations available)

Also, a good option which is robust and similar to the Biomicrobic’s approach is to add a BK 2000 filtration unit to the septic tank outlet, then feed the filtered outlet to the above pump unit. In this case a single liquid pump is adequate since solids are removed and TSS is lowered to under 10 mg/L.