The basic principle of an aerobic sludge treatment process is to use nature's way of purifying contaminated water in rivers or streams. Micro-organisms that need oxygen as an energy source, and carbon as a main nutrient source, are cultivated in a confined volume where aeration is used to transfer oxygen from the air into the liquid. The sewage effluent is fed to the micro-organisms in the reactor where the micro-organisms metabolise the biodegradable material, thus removing the contaminated material from the effluent. In the settling compartment of the plant, the micro-organisms are separated from the fluid allowing water of the highest standard to exit the system. The settled out sludge, or micro-organisms, are continuously re-circulated to the anaerobic tank and to the aerobic section of the secondary tank to assist in the process of removing contaminated material from the incoming effluent. Micro-organisms multiply and wastage must take place to prevent any spillage. The draw-off of the sludge is done by re-circulating some sludge to the anaerobic tank to be digested. The digested sludge in the anaerobic tank must be controlled by drawing off sludge from this tank once every 5 - 10 years, and dispose of same at a regional sewage purification plant or approved dumping site.

To enhance the "GEM", one of the world's finest blowers ("Becker") has been incorporated, along with a specially designed in-line chlorinator loaded with a cartridge of chlorination tablets to last the average family for a considerable period of time.