FAQ

Go to the control panel of your HYDRO-KINETIC, open the gray box, and identify the alarm using the indicator lights. You can press the blue RESET button to stop the alarm. If the alarm persists, you can lower the black circuit breaker, which will stop the alarm.

Submit a technical support request via our web form HERE

Possible alarm types:

HIGH WATER

• If the level is high, it is important to open the 4th and 5th covers and check the water level. If the system appears to be higher than normal, contact a loss adjuster or plumber.
• The level may be normal, in which case the alarm is linked to a fault in the high-level float.

AIR PUMP

• This could be due to a few different reasons related to the air pump.

RECIRC PUMP

• This could be due to a few different reasons related to the recirculation pump.

AUX 1

• If your HYDRO-KINETIC is equipped with a lift pump, the alarm will sound when the pump malfunctions. This could mean that it is no longer working. You should therefore reduce your household water usage. If the system seems higher than normal, contact a disaster recovery expert or plumber immediately. Enviro-STEP Technologies is not an emergency service.
• If your HYDRO-KINETIC is equipped with a UV disinfection lamp, this could be the cause.

For any alarm-related issues that have not been resolved with our FAQ,

Submit a technical support request via our web form HERE

Go to the control panel of your HYDRO-KINETIC, open the gray box, and identify the alarm using the indicator lights. You can press the blue RESET button to stop the alarm. If the alarm persists, you can lower the black circuit breaker, which will stop the alarm.

Request technical support using our web form HERE

Possible alarm types:

HIGH WATER

In the event of high levels, it is important to open the 1st, 4th, and 5th covers and take a photo of the water level in each tank. If the system appears to be higher than normal, contact a claims adjuster or plumber. Enviro-STEP Technologies is not an emergency service. The level may be normal, in which case the alarm is related to a defect in the high-level float.

This alarm is triggered when the water level in the system is higher than normal.
The causes may be as follows:

• Blockage of the flow regulator by a build-up of scum or grease.
• Abnormal water usage in the house.
• Breakage or obstruction of the outlet pipe of one of the tanks.
• Final lift pump (HKP-33) out of service.
• Drainage problem in the ditch or polishing field.

• Abnormal intrusion of parasitic water following heavy rain or snowmelt.

• Defective high-level float.

AIR PUMP

This alarm is triggered when there is a drop in pressure in the air injection pipe of the aerobic compartment.

The causes may be as follows:

• Air leak in a pipe
• Damaged air pump diaphragms
• Faulty air pump
• Faulty pressure sensor

RECIRC PUMP

This alarm is triggered when there is a significant decrease/variation in the amperage of the recirculation pump.

The problem can usually be solved by one of the following actions:

• Obstruction of the pump intake by solid matter or wipes.
• Replace the pump if it is defective.

AUX 1

• If your HYDRO-KINETIC is equipped with a lift pump, the alarm will sound when the pump malfunctions. This could mean that it is no longer working. You should therefore reduce your household water usage. If the system seems higher than normal, contact a claims adjuster or plumber immediately. Enviro-STEP Technologies is not an emergency service.
• If your HYDRO-KINETIC is equipped with a UV disinfection lamp, this could be the cause.

For any alarm-related issues that have not been resolved with our FAQ,

Submit a technical support request via our web form HERE

The hourly rate is $85 per hour and travel expenses are $100.

HYDRO-KINETIC is the only system in which sludge is drained based on user activity rather than a predetermined frequency.

The frequency is related to the daily volume of wastewater generated as well as the nature and quantity of waste disposed of in the sewer system.

Users who are mindful of water conservation and careful not to dispose of harmful products down the drain will benefit from less frequent emptying.

On average, HYDRO-KINETIC users empty their primary sludge at least twice less often than a regular septic tank, resulting in significant savings for our customers.

Complete emptying occurs on average after more than five years, and for many customers the frequency exceeds ten years.

Once again, when comparing this emptying process to replacing the filter media in an Ecoflo system, cleaning the media in a Bionest system, or scrubbing the sludge accumulated underground in an O System, HYDRO-KINETIC customers enjoy substantial savings compared to these other systems.

Each year, a certified and authorized HYDRO-KINETIC technician uses a specialized instrument to measure the accumulation of solids in the pretreatment chamber and check the concentration of bacteria (biomass) in the biological reactor.

Depending on the HYDRO-KINETIC model installed, when the pretreatment chamber has accumulated 75 to 100 cm of solids or more than 30 cm of floating grease, a PARTIAL DRAINAGE may be required.

For the main biological reactor, when the biomass concentration reaches 95%, a COMPLETE DRAIN may be required immediately or within the next few years.

When either of these conditions occurs, the owner receives a notification of PARTIAL DRAIN or COMPLETE DRAIN from our after-sales service coordinator with instructions to follow, identification of the compartments to be drained, and the approximate volume of water to be drained.

The emptying can be done by any septic tank emptying company.

Like all other wastewater treatment systems, HYDRO-KINETIC accumulates residues resulting from wastewater treatment. These residues, known as primary sludge and secondary sludge, must be periodically drained when their quantity becomes too large.

A distinctive feature of HYDRO-KINETIC is that it does not use filter media that needs to be replaced periodically, such as Ecoflo, or large quantities of media, such as Bionest, which must be cleaned regularly.

The HYDRO-KINETIC manages sludge removal by simply emptying it, as is done with a septic tank.

No. The HYDRO-KINETIC does not have a septic tank.

Primary treatment of wastewater from the residence takes place in the first two compartments of the system, namely the pretreatment chamber and the anoxic chamber.

Sludge accumulation is measured annually during maintenance visits, and sludge should only be drained when it reaches a predetermined level in the tank.

This will vary depending on what is discharged into the sewer system. The vast majority of HYDRO-KINETIC users have their primary sludge emptied much less frequently than a standard septic tank and will save thousands of dollars over time.

With rare exceptions, all septic tank pumping companies can empty HYDRO-KINETIC systems.

You can find these companies by searching online using the keywords “Septic Tank Pumping” or by contacting your local municipality or regional county municipality.

Our customer service team can assist you with your search. Contact them at [email protected].

Maybe.
Some manufacturers claim that their toilet paper is compatible with septic systems, but user experience shows otherwise.

Some types of paper tend to clog pipes and break down poorly when in contact with water. This type of paper increases the risk of clogging and premature emptying of your septic system.

A simple homemade test using a jar filled with water and a few pieces of toilet paper shaken vigorously for a few seconds can quickly predict the behavior of the paper and its risk of clogging.

Since they do not have septic tanks, municipalities and RCMs must not charge HYDRO-KINETIC customers for septic tank emptying.

This would be a violation of provincial regulation Q-2, r.22, as well as a violation of certification protocol NQ 3680-910 of the Bureau de Normalisation du Québec.

If you see such a charge appear, contact your municipality to have it removed. Enviro-STEP Technologies can assist you if your municipality requires more details or explanations. You can obtain a copy of a legal notice on this subject produced by the firm LAVERY Avocats by contacting our customer service department at [email protected].

Several products are harmful to all types of septic systems, including HYDRO-KINETIC. For example, tissues, paper towels, and toilet paper do not break down quickly when in contact with water, wet wipes, condoms and other personal hygiene products, food residues, oils and fats, medications, hair, dryer lint, cleaning products in quantities exceeding the manufacturer's recommendations, etc. should not be flushed into your septic system.

The Department of Environment, Climate Change, Wildlife, and Parks has produced a guide to best practices for septic system users.

Check it out by clicking on the following link:

For an advanced secondary system, such as a HYDRO-KINETIC with a polishing field, we perform one inspection per year.

For a tertiary system, i.e., a HYDRO-KINETIC system with dephosphatation, UV disinfection, or both, we conduct two inspections per year due to the sampling requirements set out in Q-2, r.22.

Your presence is not required. Our technician will leave a notice on your door following the maintenance of your HYDRO-KINETIC system.

An advanced secondary HYDRO-KINETIC (with polishing field) is inspected once a year.

This maintenance includes:

• Checking the proper functioning of mechanical components, internal plumbing, alarms, control panel, flow regulator, and HKP-33 lift pump (when installed).
• Measurements of sludge, scum, and mixed liquor concentration.

A tertiary HYDRO-KINETIC (with dephosphatation, UV disinfection, or both) is inspected twice a year.

This maintenance includes:

• Checking that the mechanical components, internal plumbing, alarms, control panel, and flow regulator are working properly.
• Measuring sludge, scum, and mixed liquor concentration.
• In the case of a HYDRO-KINETIC with dephosphatation:
  • A water sample is sent to the laboratory to analyze the total phosphorus concentration.
• In the case of a HYDRO-KINETIC with UV disinfection:
  • A check of the UV components.
  • Lamp replacement every 4th visit (2 years).
  • A water sample is sent to the laboratory to analyze the fecal coliform concentration.

The HYDRO-KINETIC system is unique in that it does not use a septic tank (as defined in Regulation Q-2, r.22), but instead uses a primary treatment system that occupies the first two sections of the system. The first stage, called “pretreatment,” retains coarse solids.

The second stage is called “anoxic treatment,” where part of the wastewater is periodically mixed with secondary sludge to promote sludge degradation and reduce its volume.

The primary treatment tank of a HYDRO-KINETIC system is drained only when necessary, based on the results of an annual measurement performed by an authorized HYDRO-KINETIC technician.

The frequency depends on each user but is on average every 3 to 5 years, with some exceptions, of course. This drain is called a PARTIAL DRAIN.

As with any biological process, there will come a point when the biomass concentration will be very high and the entire system will need to be pumped out.

The frequency depends on usage but can sometimes be as long as 8 to 10 years, again with exceptions. This drain is called a COMPLETE DRAIN and is also only done as needed according to the certified technician's instructions.

We have two maintenance seasons: from snowmelt until August for annual maintenance, followed by September through the holiday season for the second inspection of customers with a HYDRO-KINETIC system with dephosphatation, UV disinfection, or both.

The system (including the control panel) must be accessible at all times for inspection.

A fee of $100 will apply for unnecessary trips or if we have to clear snow, dig, or move objects or structures to access all covers of the treatment system.

No appointment or advance notice is required for inspection visits.

According to provincial regulations (Q-2, r.22), tertiary systems (with dephosphatation, UV disinfection, or both) must be sampled twice, as much as possible every 6 months, hence the two maintenance visits per year.

For the 2026 season, prepayment for annual maintenance visits and sampling is now required before scheduling a technician visit.

Fees applicable to remote areas are part of the 2026 pricing schedule that was sent to our customers. To receive another copy, please email [email protected].

If your system requires two annual visits, the fee for the first visit includes the annual maintenance as well as the first sampling. The second visit corresponds to the second required sampling, which explains the difference between the two amounts.

https://hydro-kinetic.ca/documentation/

First step, fill out the installation notice.

• Make sure you see the confirmation message on the screen once you have completed and submitted the form.
• You will receive an email with the installation notice details.

Next, contact your distributor to place your order.

The installation notice is not an order.

You must hold a RBQ 2.4 license, be trained by your regional advisor during your first installation, and attend Enviro-STEP Technologies' annual seminars.

For more information, please contact your regional advisor.

https://hydro-kinetic.ca/documentation/