Verified as of 2026-09-09. We re-check these pages quarterly.
The ATU maintenance contract: what Brevard owners need to know
Every upgraded system in the lagoon program is an aerobic treatment unit, and every ATU in Florida comes with a rule attached.
The rule. An aerobic (ATU) system must be under an active maintenance contract with an approved maintenance entity for the life of the system. It's required by Florida rule, not a manufacturer suggestion. Advanced treatment tanks with pumps also require an Operation and Maintenance permit from the Florida Department of Health and twice-yearly maintenance by a septic contractor.
What it costs. The DOH operating permit plus the twice-yearly maintenance typically runs about $375 a year. The biennial operating permit fee itself is capped by statute at $100. Grant-funded upgrades usually bundle a two-year maintenance agreement; after that it's on you to renew.
What the visits include
- Air pump / blower check and filter cleaning
- Effluent inspection
- Float switches, alarms and dosing checks
- Sludge level — an ATU still needs pumping; the maintenance visit doesn't replace a pump-out
- Service record filed as required
The alarm. A blinking light or buzzer almost always means the air pump has stopped. Without air, the unit reverts to anaerobic treatment within days and stops meeting the nitrogen standard. Air pumps last 5–10 years and cost $300–$800 to replace. Don't silence the alarm and forget it.
If you inherited an ATU with a house: find out who's held the maintenance contract, when the pump was last replaced, and whether the operating permit is current. An ATU with a lapsed contract is a compliance problem and, usually, a mechanical one.
Verified as of September 9, 2026. Contract requirements are set by Florida rule and administered by DOH-Brevard.