The performance of a leach field of a septic tank type wastewater treatment system
and other analogous devices is enhanced, maintained or rejuvenated by flowing air
or other active gas through conduits of the system. Air is flowed serially through
leaching chambers, perforated pipes in stone filled trenches, pits and the like,
and the adjacent soil where wastewater treatment takes place. In alternate embodiments,
conduits are pressurized or evacuated; and, auxiliary pipes are buried in vicinity
of the conduits. An air mover creates a differential pressure sufficient to effect
a desired physical or biochemical change in the soil adjacent the conduits, variously
to to an extent sufficient to push water from saturated soil and to change the
gas composition in the soil. Different valve devices and piping configurations
are used to manage the desired flow of air and wastewater.
