The concentration of organic waste that exists in these systems is not consistent with Nature, resulting in the digestive microbes being under constant stress. This gives rise to the problem of foul odors, surface crust, sludge accumulation, and reduced water percolation. The solution to these problems has been very expensive, and out of the reach for the owners of packing plant wastewater ponds, septic tanks, dairy ponds, and manure pits until now. Millions of dollars are spent on municipal wastewater treatment plants, yet these expensive systems still have odor, and limited water percolation.
Products commonly used in treating wastewater systems are enzymes, polymers, and surfactants.
For the most part these products coagulate and allow the organic material to settle to the bottom of the pond.