Innovative Technology Breathing New Life into Failed Septic Systems for Homeowners throughout New England

Regional distributor in Portland says The Pirana offers the best protection for septic tanks and leach fields

PORTLAND, Maine – Homeowners across New England are taking notice of an innovative technology that is literally breathing new life into failing septic systems.

Called The Pirana™, the product works by pumping specially cultivated aerobic bacteria into the septic system, breaking down clogs and slime that lead to system failures and costly replacement. It keeps septic systems functioning properly and also remediates failed leach fields.

“The Pirana™ works naturally from the inside to repair and maintain septic systems, and also protect groundwater. I’ve never seen anything like it,” said Thomas Caron of Portland, who has been in the construction industry for 25 years.

Caron is the owner of Piranaco Northeast, the sole distributor of The Pirana™ to customers throughout Maine and the Northeast. He also installs and services the product in southern Maine. Already, thousands of Pirana’s have been installed in New England, across the U.S. and in five other countries, he said.

“One of the biggest headaches a homeowner faces is when a septic system fails,” Caron said. “Yards and landscaping are disrupted, it’s disgusting, and it’s always expensive to dig and rebuild.

With snow now melted away, Caron encouraged homeowners to be aware of the warning signs of a failing septic system: lush green grass over the leach field, a wet yard that stays moist, and the odor of sewage.

“All conventional septic systems have one basic flaw; they are designed and destined to fail,” Caron said. Buried underground with poor oxygen flow, slime producing anaerobic bacteria that help break down waste eventually help clog septic systems by living in the leach field and becoming an impermeable mass, he said. Replacing a septic system can cost as much as $35,000 in some parts of the Northeast and as much as $20,000 in Maine.

The Pirana™, which is significantly less expensive, is a device and a proprietary blend of naturally occurring bacteria designed to remediate, maintain and optimize septic system function.

It works by pumping the bacterial blend into the system and constantly cycling through the contents of the septic tank. Organic solids in the tank are almost completely eliminated, minimizing the need for septic tank pumping.

The odor-free clarified effluent is then carried to the leach field, where it rapidly consumes the “biomat” that clogs the soil and causes leach fields to fail. With soil pores open, effluent once again can percolate into the ground.

Other benefits include pathogen removal, as well as significant reduction in nitrates, a serious contaminate in water bodies.

“That is especially important for septic systems located in and around sensitive environments such as watersheds, lakes, rivers, ponds, shoreline areas and wells,” Caron added.

Environmental agencies also are beginning to take notice. The EPA, realizing that a number of technologies designed for use in small waste treatment systems actually work better than large scale systems such as municipal wastewater systems, has begun to embrace The Pirana™ and other advanced wastewater treatment technologies, he said.

Also, increased development in rural areas has led to more and more septic systems. In an effort to eliminate pollution caused by undersized or unacceptable systems, state and federal agencies are taking action. In Massachusetts, for example, the rule known as Title Five mandates homeowners to upgrade and maintain their septic systems, often at a cost of as much as $50,000. But The Pirana™ has been a godsend for many Bay State homeowners, who are able to fulfill the mandate at a fraction of the cost, Caron said.

The Pirana technology is being applied not only in residential systems; it is also being used commercially, and in arid regions for water conservation. Processed effluent is being used to irrigate some non-edible agricultural products. Applications in third world countries, where wastewater problems are sources for disease and epidemics, are also being studied.

The Pirana™ can be installed in almost any septic system, Caron said.

“The science behind this product is proven and sound, and it’s something I support wholeheartedly for anyone with a septic system,” Caron said. “It won’t take long for homeowners to see the value of The Pirana™ in avoided maintenance and replacement costs of their existing systems.”

For more information about The Pirana™, visit www.pirmaine.com or contact Caron at 207-767-5400 or tcaron@northeasthome.net.
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