Chemical-Free Drain & Septic Treatment: Good for You and Planet Earth
United-Tech develops revolutionary, highly effective products to treat organic waste. We aim to reduce dependency on harmful, caustic chemicals that often create more problems than they ‘solve.’
One such discovery is BZT Drain & Septic, a living, all-natural and biological product designed to treat and maintain healthy pipes, keep odors down naturally (by outcompeting H2S-forming bacteria for nutrients), and maintain biologically-balanced septic tanks.
Providing eco-friendly treatment solutions is our business. Drainlines and septic systems are a piece of cake for BZT. Odors are easily managed, drains flow free, and septic systems become much less of a hassle to maintain.
Then there are the extremes. For example, this Florida man recently died from Hydrogen Sulfide inhalation from his septic system. Though not a common occurrence, it can be treated - naturally - and prevented. For example, the microorganisms in BZT Drain & Septic outcompete H2S-forming bacteria for nutrients. This process in turn reduces or eliminates the foul-smelling fumes that often build up in these systems.
Why reduce your dependance on caustic chemicals? Many drain treatment products contain large amounts of acids, lye or other caustic compounds. These may temporarily burn away clogging material, but the use of chemicals in such vital systems can and often create more upsets. For instance, drain-opening chemicals regularly wipe out the beneficial bacteria these systems depend on for liquefaction - on contact. Chemicals loosen chunks of solids, but because there is no digestion of the waste occurring, this material often clumps up further down the line and causes blockage.
When beneficial microorganisms within a waste treatment system are abused or destroyed, digestion of organic material slows or stops. Caustics change soil structure, too, breaking down the drain field into finer particles of dirt that pack together, reducing the ability of the liquids to drain. The result is no surprise to us, a bog of eternal stench.
BZT® Drain & Septic can eliminate the need for chemical treatment and prevent these upsets - safely, efficiently, and naturally.
So why on earth should you replace the drain openers, septic treatments and odor masking chemicals you’ve been using for years with BZT Drain & Septic? Because it’s good for you. It’s good for the planet, and it works. Solutions designed not to contribute to more problems later are sensible, responsible, and make life better for everyone.
Questions or Comments? Contact us.
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Odor Control for Ponds, Aquaculture, Water Features
Ponds, whether commercial, decorative, or agricultural, occasionally exhibit some rather foul odors. Most pond odors are caused by hydrogen sulfide (rotten egg smell), sulfur, and ammonia. Odors are also caused by algae, such as Chara (skunkweed), as well as cyanobacteria (blue-green algae).
BZT® Aquaculture is formulated with beneficial bacteria selected for the ability to outcompete hydrogen sulfide producing microbes. Sulfur thrives in pond bottom solids (dead algae, organic matter, feces etc). BZT Aquaculture breaks down bottom solids where sulfur producing bacteria thrive, accelerating the nitrogen cycle naturally and enhancing the rate at which ammonia is converted into nitrite. Ammonia is the principle cause of odors when high stocking densities or populations of fish are present.
Lastly, removing odors caused by algae is simple: BZT Aquaculture outcompete the algae for nutrients, thus preventing it from thriving. We covered this in the following article: “Pond Algae Treatment: Target the Source, Not the symptom.”
In summary, by insuring high populations of beneficial microbes and enzymes, BZT Aquaculture can alleviate most common odor problems. If your pond or water feature exhibits undesirable odors, we can help.
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BZT Waste Digester vs. Filamentous Bacteria - Pt. 2
Biological Treatment Summary
Biobed Anaerobic Reactor - Aeration Basin - Ethanol Plant - BZT® Waste Digester
The Situation
An ethanol plant was experiencing upsets in its biobed reactor and the biological activity of the bed was being seriously impaired. The plant was also experiencing heavy foaming and was overcome by filamentous bacteria throughout the wastewater treatment plant.
The Solution
United-Tech proposed a bioaugmentation program that consisted of the addition of BZT® Waste Digester to the biobed and the aeration basin. The treatment was designed to provide the hydrolytic breakdown of the starches, proteins and the cleaning solutions that were used in the plant cleanup operations, all of which were causing upsets in the various stages of wastewater.
The Results
The addition of BZT® Waste Digester increased the heartiness of the biobed allowing it to survive upsets. The filamentous problem has been eliminated along with the solids being greatly reduced. Since starting the maintenance program the facility has not had the need to purchase activated sludge. This savings has more than offset the cost of the program.
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BZT Waste Digester vs. Filamentous Bacteria - Pt. 1
Biological Treatment Summary
Odor & Sludge Reduction - Wastewater Treatment Rendering Facility - BZT® Waste Digester
The Situation
A major rendering facility was experiencing problems with its Wastewater Treatment Plant because of high influent loading during the summer season. Odor from the plant was headlined in news articles and foaming attributed to filamentous bacteria, which plugged pumps and decreased the plant's efficiency.
The Solution
United-Tech proposed a bioaugmentation program that consisted of the addition of BZT® Waste Digester to the system. It was proposed that an initial seed application be performed followed by regular weekly maintenance applications. The treatment program was designed to:
• Reduce solids
• Enhance Stability
• Reduce/eliminate odor
• Breakdown H2S
• Reduce the total overall sludge volume
• Increase plant capacity and efficiency
• Increase plant ability to handle upsets and shocks
The Results
Within one month, solids were reduced by up to 20%. The odors had all but disappeared. The foaming and filamentous problems were greatly reduced after two months, and eliminated after three months. The program provided positive payback within three months, attributed to:
• Reduction in hauling costs
• Reduction in polymer usage
• Elimination of chlorine
The program has demonstrated the broad ranging effects of BZT® Waste Digester and its ability to reduce the odor in the surrounding community and save thousands of dollars.
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BZT Waste Digester: What are the Enzymes for?
Enzymes are essentially organic catalysts. Catalysts are defined as substances that will speed up or alter the rate of chemical reactions without the catalyst (enzyme) being altered or used up in the process. This means that since the enzyme isn't actually used up in the digestion process, even small amounts go a very long way.
The process by which complex organic compounds, in the presence of water and enzymes, are broken down or transformed into simpler compounds is known as digestion or hydrolysis. Enzymes speed up the union of water with a substance, after which the substance breaks up into fragments. Enzyme action is specifically targeted. Protein splitting enzymes will affect only proteins and not fats or carbohydrates.
BZT® Waste Digester contains four major enzymes which enhance the product activity.
Got it? Good.
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Pond Algae Treatment: Target The Source, Not the Symptom
(Japanese Koi Pond exhibiting Green Water)
Algaecides - The Quick, Dirty Method
The problem with adding algaecides or similar products is that they only kill algae. They do not treat the source of the problem, which is nutrient overload in the pond.
Pour it in, say bye bye to the nuisance. That’s the logic behind algaecides, and in that respect, they work. But what happens next? When the algae dies, it sinks to the bottom and creates a sludge. This sludge has a variety of negative issues associated with it, such as aesthetics and odors. But from an ecosystem approach, this sludge is a huge nutrient (fertilizer) source for subsequent algae growth.
Bio-Based Treatment with BZT - The Sustainable Method
A simple, ecofriendly method of pond algae treatment is to assimilate its food source before it has a chance to grow. This requires no chemicals with “Danger: Poison” labels, no permit to handle toxic substances. Instead, through the addition of BZT, one can achieve pristine water conditions and MAINTAIN them. Naturally.
BZT contains targeted, all-natural microorganisms that consume excess nutrients in the water, thus ‘starving out’ other organisms, such as algae. Over time, this battle of attrition causes the algae to die off. When it dies, it sinks, and rather than the dead material building up into yet another nutrient sludge, BZT breaks up the dead material faster, using up the nutrients more quickly.
In addition, BZT eliminates odors, oxidizes ammonia, and improves fish health by providing a cleaner, biologically balanced environment for them to thrive.
BZT Koi & Pond is designed exclusively for small, backyard-type decorative and koi ponds, while BZT Aquaculture is designed for larger bodies of water with heavier organic loads (aquaculture farms, municipal ponds, etc.).
The Importance of Custom Treatment Protocols
United-Tech offers free technical service to customers, which includes custom protocols for unique and difficult situations. Though our standard instructions tackle everyday pond situations, occasionally a pond will exhibit extreme symptoms of nutrient loading and/or other factors which may need to be addressed. Available Monday-Friday, 8-5 CST, the United-Tech Support Team is here to serve our customers.
In summary, we propose that all-natural treatment with BZT is safer, more sustainable, and more sensible than adding chemicals known to provide quick results of symptoms without targeting the cause of the algae growth. United-Tech has conquered these issues for decades in agricultural, municipal and commercial water features, as well as residential applications. It is what we do.
Previous Stories Associated with Algae Treatment:
Backyard Water Conservation - The BZT Method
Springtime Pond Treatment - Prevent Algae Blooms Before They Start
Featured Project: Rasti-Land Amusement Park
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Treat Dumpsters, Trash Cans for Odor with BZT Waste Digester
The application rate varies with the contamination load, but up to three commercial dumpsters (3-5m3) can be treated with one gallon of slurry. In the beginning, frequent treatment (once a week) may be required to break up the buildup. For specific application rates regarding your situation, contact us for custom rates, as much depends upon temperature, humidity, waste load and type.
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Superior, Targeted Treatment for Aquaculture
BZT Waste Digester focuses on the break down and digestion of organic solids. The microorganisms used in this product excel at breaking down complex organic compounds and then digesting them, eventually converting them to carbon dioxide and water. This process works for dissolved organic compounds and solids, such as the sludge that accumulates at the bottom of ponds used during culture.
BZT Aquaculture targets water quality issues. It helps control nitrogenous compounds, such as ammonia and nitrite/nitrate, minimizes toxicity issues, and controls phytoplankton densities.
The products are used together and individually depending on the individual farmer’s needs and even individual pond needs. For information on how our products and service help aquaculture operations exceed expectations, please contact us today.
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Right Whale 'Acoustic Data'
“Sounds From The Sea” - From the New England Aquarium, Right Whale Research Blog:
Since I was a kid, discovering the contents of space probe Voyager’s golden record (another fascinating link worth exploring) on a PBS program, I’ve been fascinated with the sounds whales make. When I discovered how far their songs can travel in the ocean (halfway across the world), this inspired me to consider the evolutionary merits of our artificial World Wide Web. Unlike humans, these sea mammals do not require silicon-based hardware and endless miles of fiber optics to transmit data to their kin. They simply open their voices up and stream it across the globe. Imagine that.
if you’re a whale watcher and happen to be visiting Jacksonville, FL mid-November, you can catch the “Right Whale Festival at Jacksonville Beach, Seawalk Pavillion.” Help clean up the beach, entertain your kids, enjoy some fab music and learn more about Right Whales.
Lastly, I send you off with another link recommendation. Whale Songs, from Right Whales to Finbacks to Orcas and more. These alien sounds are not simply fodder for the latest new age album, but real, complex, global communication happening without wires or fiber. Something to ponder.
Cheers! (or should that be... “Groooooooaaaaannn...&rdquo
Bruce Rich, CIO
United-Tech
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Sustainability & The Future
United-Tech is proud to belong to the list of innovators that contribute to sustainable practices in manufacturing, production and waste treatment. As the future brings more environmental challenges day by day, we continue our efforts and encourage others to do the same.
If we can help your company, municipality or organization reduce your environmental impact through waste treatment and water treatment, please get in touch. Ultimately, we hope to improve your bottom line while reducing your environmental impact. This is possible with BZT and United-Tech Technical Services.
Sincerely,
Bruce Rich, CIO
United-Tech, Inc.
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White House Encourages Increased Domestic Aquaculture
United-Tech has serviced the aquaculture sector in Southeast Asia and South America (among others) for over a decade. Contact us to learn how BZT can help improve the sustainability and ROI of your domestic aquaculture operations.
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Backyard Water Conservation - The BZT Method
(Happy Koi swimming in clean water - they can help reduce your water consumption)
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council, "more than 1,100 counties, 1/3 of all counties in the lower 48 - will face higher risks of water shortages by mid-century as a result of global warming." (http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/watersustainability/)
Skeptics abound, but even discounting the NRDC warnings, many US cities already face water shortages and have implemented rationing to try and curb this phenomenon. The Permian Basin in Texas, for instance.
What can we do now to contribute to conservation efforts in our own back yards? Build a decorative/koi pond! A well-maintained pond is educational as well as aesthetically pleasing, but also "it takes very little water to top off a pond. It takes hundreds of gallons of water to keep a lawn green." (Goldfield, Jan. "Water Conservation and Your Backyard Pond.")
Of course, eventually the pond will begin developing organic waste, such as bottom solids, scum, fish waste, excess feed waste, nutrients from runoff, algae etc. The common method of dealing with these problems is water exchange, which many Koi pond enthusiasts recommend on a bi-weekly basis. However, there is a more responsible, conservational method we would like to share.
BZT(R) Koi & Pond, manufactured by United-Tech, is a proprietary, all-natural formula containing beneficial microbes and enzymes. These organisms attack and degrade organic waste, from the water column to the bottom sludge. By spending about 77 cents a week on maintenance applications (per 1,000 gallons), BZT(R) Koi & Pond controls/eliminates bottom sludge, oxidize ammonia, reduce nitrates/nitrites, and improve fish health by outcompeting 'bad' bacteria for nutrients. This, in turn, significantly reduces the need for water exchange, thus reducing your water bill and improving your conservation efforts.
Ideal for Koi ponds, decorative ponds, neighborhood or commercial ponds, BZT(R) Koi & pond concentrates the recycling power of nature to clean aquatic systems, reducing dependance on environmentally questionable chemical and antibiotic treatment ‘solutions.’
If the idea of water conservation appeals to you, we invite you to join us in the effort. You may think that one person cannot affect change, but inspiring minds have proven time and again that living by example creates ripples in global awareness. If everyone pitches in, we will make a global impact. Begin your backyard ecosystem today!
(Bruce Rich, CIO)
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9 Common Items You Shouldn't Flush
Here's a list of items (by no means comprehensive) that should never go into the porcelain god, no matter what you've been taught.
1/ Dental Floss
Put the stuff in the trash. It won't biodegrade, and it will clog pipes and sewers.
2/ Fats, Oils, Grease
Unless you want raw sewage eventually overflowing in your home and on the street, recycle it instead (where available), or let it cool and dump it in the trash. FOG is the number one culprit for backups, and yet it's so easy to avoid.
3/ Cotton Swabs
Though the cardboard variety will eventually compost, the plastic swabs last for centuries and clog pipes and sewers. Those that make it to the lift stations and beyond have to be manually removed and send to a landfill.
4/ Condoms
Here's a photo of a metropolitan lift station we treat. See that little rubber sitting there? It’s gross, and to top it off, a city worker will likely have to dispose of it for you by hand. Classy! Though condoms are supposed to be biodegradable, the process takes longer than the sewer system will tolerate. Put yourself in their shoes, no matter how afterglowy you seem to be, and the world will be a cleaner place.
5/ Hair
Hair is an effective clogging agent for pipes and drains. It attracts other solids, including fats, oil, and grease, and can eventually cause raw sewage to back up in your home. Unless you WANT to create headaches for yourself, or your neighbors, either donate the hair to Locks of Love, use it as compost, or ask your grandmother to weave you a hat. Just don't put it down the toilet.
6/ Tampons/Sanitary Napkins
This is a photo of a municipal lift station. Look at those used tampons floating in the muck. A friendly neighborhood municipal worker has to manually remove those and send them to the landfill. Sounds like a great time to me.
7/ Chemicals
What keeps your pipes flowing freely is primarily the result of beneficial bacteria (like the kind we add in concentrated form to BZT Drain & Septic). Every time you flush chemicals down the drain, you are wiping them out. Chemicals also cause problems for the municipality that come with a significant price tag. Also, they are awful for the environment.
(Supplemental) Treat your drains and septic systems with an effective biological product, BZT Drain & Septic, instead of waiting until there’s a problem. One of our goals as a company is to reduce the world’s dependance on harmful chemicals while providing a sound, powerful solution to organic waste. This is where it begins, and ends.
8/ Coffee Grounds
Yes, they are biodegradable, but it takes awhile and they would be better off in your compost bin. Coffee grounds clog septic systems, too. Big no-no.
9/ Paper Towels/Tissue
Toilet paper is designed for use in toilet plumbing/sewers. However, paper towels and tissues are not. They don't biodegrade quickly, and they may choke the sewer lines and flood your house with raw sewage eventually. Yum!
If we’re all a little more responsible, careful, and knowledgable about such icky things, we will be better able to keep this planet sustainable. Please join us in the effort, and eventually we may not have to post such icky photos.
(Bruce Rich, CIO)
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ARTICLE SHARE - "Disturbing surface water can prevent fishkill"
Aeration is important for aquaculture operations, as excess feed, ammonia, increased pathogenic activity and other imbalances related to stocking density take a significant toll on these systems.
Also, setting up a microbe/enzyme based treatment protocol with BZT Aquaculture is essential for significant increases of survivability, as the formula targets toxic compounds NH3, NO2, H2S, outcompetes algae and pathogenic bacteria for nutrients, and eliminates the need for chemical/antibiotic treatments. Also, BZT Aquaculture helps reduce the need for water exchange, which is a sound environmental practice and a financial benefit for aquaculture operations.
This is just one of many solutions United-Tech offers the global community.
Thanks to our twitter friends YSI, Inc., manufacturers of water sampling and monitoring technology, for sharing the link.
(Bruce Rich)
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Springtime Pond Treatment - Prevent Algae Blooms Before they Start
However, with higher temperatures, organic runoff and the increased use of fertilizers come the dreaded algae, driving mad the human caretakers of backyard ponds and water features.
(farm pond exhibiting algae bloom)
Rainwater carries animal waste, fertilizer, agricultural waste, and decomposed material straight into ponds. This concentration of nutrients intensifies the algae population; they’re on a superfood kick, and there’s no stopping photosynthesis. Suddenly, the place is a wreck.
As vegetative life ends, it sinks to the pond bottom, adding to the nutrient reserve for future aquatic growth. This is called “Nutrient Cycling,” a necessary process for maintaining ecological balance. However, a pond with organic overload is like eating every meal at the burger joint – super sized fries and all. It just isn’t healthy, and the life of the pond succumbs to the greed of the algal cells. Silt (the sludge or sediment at the bottom of a pond) builds up to six inches per year, and naturally-occurring bacteria in ponds simply cannot decompose and utilize all of these excess nutrients and organic sediment. So the algae snatch it up instead.
What are the dangers of Algae Bloom?
Algae bloom is an eye sore, and it detracts from the quality and enjoyment of your favorite water feature. If the animals in your farm depend on this pond, they may embrace a “thirst strike” rather than drink the green soup. Milk production and weight gain are seriously affected when animals cannot drink enough water. In addition, fish and other aquatic animals suffer, because more stress is placed on their bodies and their appetite. In the aquaculture industry, a single algae bloom can wipe out an entire harvest if not controlled timely. In a more natural feature, a steady decline in the aesthetic quality of life occurs until the pond is no longer suitable for sustaining life.
How to Prevent Algae Bloom:
A teaspoon of prevention is worth a ton of cure. Preventing organic build-up before it happens is much easier than trying to eliminate algae after the bloom has occurred. Just like brushing your teeth before a big date, a good, healthy pond needs regular hygienic maintenance to attract visitors and live a long, productive life.
In order to “stop” an algae bloom, you must prevent the excessive nutrient and organic build-up in the first place. Starve the algae! Adding highly concentrated, active microbes and digestive enzymes will kick-start the process and help to maintain the proper balance. BZT® Koi & Pond, for instance, promotes faster nutrient depletion in pond water, starves algal cells for their basic nutrients, and maintains aesthetic and recreational values.
It is also important to maintain a proper pH balance (between 6.5-8.0). Simple pH test kits can be purchased from your local pet shop or agricultural store.
Aeration (adding dissolved oxygen) is also necessary in levels of > 2.0 ppm for optimum performance of the BZT® microbes. This can be achieved through various means, depending upon the pond size. Mechanical aeration, wind and wave action, air stones, paddlewheels and waterfalls are some examples.
(same pond, after treatment with BZT® Aquaculture, a United-Tech product specially formulated for large water features)
Prevention of algae bloom is easy, and it’s less time consuming and less expensive than waiting until you have a problem. It’s ok to put off some things, like paying the cable bill or calling the in-laws. But if you have a pond in need of some tender loving care, do the right thing and take preventive measures - before your pond falls prey to the costly, disastrous and messy effects of the Algae bloom.
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Springtime Pond Start-Up
With Spring’s arrival, it is time to get your pond in shape before things get out of control. Now is the time to carefully inspect you pond, its equipment, and its inhabitants to make sure everything is ready for the upcoming season. Make sure all your pond equipment is functioning properly, the pond is clean, fish are healthy, and your water quality is established before summer arrives.
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