Septic systems for home and commercial use can be built or upgraded to be less prone to failure by adding aeration equipment in septic tanks and drain fields, in order to ensure proper oxygen levels in the waste effluent in the septic tank and in the drain field to ensure a healthy population of organisms. The septic system may also benefit from the addition of organisms, enzymes or chemicals to enhance the benefits of aeration. Proper organism populations, in combination with proper aeration in the septic tanks and drain fields, will greatly reduce system failures, or restore failed systems.