Hoot BNR System
Basic Nitrogen Reduction
The workhorse of the Hoot product line — NSF/ANSI Standard 40 certified, engineered for residential properties, and the most widely installed advanced treatment system across California’s most challenging sites.
Why the BNR Is the Most Popular Hoot Model
For the majority of California properties that need advanced wastewater treatment, the Hoot BNR is the right answer. It delivers exceptional treatment performance at a residential price point, fits within a compact footprint, and meets the requirements of every county Local Area Management Program (LAMP) in the state. When property owners ask us “which Hoot system do I need?”, the BNR is the answer about 90% of the time.
BNR stands for Basic Nitrogen Reduction — a technical term that understates what this system actually does. The BNR achieves significant nitrogen reduction along with industry-leading removal of biological oxygen demand and suspended solids, producing effluent clean enough for approved subsurface drip dispersal even on properties where conventional septic could never meet permit requirements.
NSF/ANSI Standard 40 Certified: The Hoot BNR is independently tested and certified to meet NSF International’s Standard 40 — the recognized benchmark for aerobic on-site wastewater treatment systems in the United States.
Certified Treatment Results
The Hoot BNR consistently delivers high-quality treatment across all key performance metrics:
Aerobic biological treatment removes nearly all carbonaceous biological oxygen demand inside the tank — before effluent reaches the dispersal field.
Near-complete suspended solids removal produces clear, odorless treated effluent ready for approved dispersal.
For sites with elevated nitrogen-reduction requirements, see the Hoot ANR System — engineered to drive total nitrogen below the EPA’s 10 mg/L drinking water threshold.
BNR Configurations for Every Residential Application
The Hoot BNR is available in multiple flow capacities to match the size and usage of your property. We help you specify the right configuration based on your home’s bedroom count, occupancy, and county sizing requirements.
H600 — 600 GPD
Our most commonly installed BNR configuration. Sized for 3–4 bedroom homes and the standard choice for most California residential properties on advanced treatment.
H750 — 750 GPD
Increased capacity for larger residential properties — typically 4–5 bedroom homes or properties with higher-than-average occupancy or usage patterns.
H1000 — 1,000 GPD
The largest standard residential configuration. Suited for 5+ bedroom homes, multi-generational households, or small-scale commercial applications.
H1200 — 1,200 GPD
Suited for small to mid-scale commercial applications, small apartment or multi-unit dwellings applications.
Need a system designed around higher flow volumes or commercial loading? See our Commercial & Municipal Hoot Systems.
How Most Hoot BNR Systems Are Installed in California
While the Hoot BNR is a complete advanced treatment system in a single tank, most California installations pair it with a separate pump tank — the configuration we deliver most often across the state.
The pump tank is exactly what it sounds like: a second tank, installed downstream of the Hoot, that holds the fully treated water and sends it out to the drain field on a controlled schedule. There are good reasons this two-tank setup has become the California default.
Why the Pump Tank Matters
Flexibility in Drain Field Placement
California sites are rarely flat, simple, or ideal. Hillsides, setbacks from wells and property lines, rocky soils, and limited usable space push the drain field to wherever the property allows — often uphill from the tank or some distance away. The pump tank gives the system the power to move treated water wherever it needs to go.
Compatibility with Advanced Dispersal Methods
GeoFlow subsurface drip, mound systems, and pressurized drain fields all require dosing — controlled, measured releases of effluent rather than gravity flow. The pump tank is what makes those dispersal methods possible.
More Even Drain Field Performance
Dosing treated water in measured cycles, rather than letting it trickle out continuously, gives the drain field time to rest between doses and treat each cycle more effectively. The result is a healthier, longer-lasting dispersal field.
A Buffer for High-Use Days
The pump tank provides reserve capacity for busy days — holiday gatherings, full houses, extra laundry — without overwhelming the drain field.
What This Means for You
If your property needs a Hoot BNR, there’s a strong chance the complete system will include a pump tank. We specify both tanks during the system design phase, deliver them together, and start the full system up once your contractor has them set in place.
Ideal Applications
The Hoot BNR is the right system for residential properties where conventional septic isn’t viable but advanced nitrogen reduction beyond NSF Standard 40 levels isn’t strictly required.
Soil-Challenged Sites
Properties with rocky terrain, shallow soil, or poor percolation rates where conventional septic cannot achieve adequate treatment through the drain field alone.
Small or Steep Lots
Residential properties where space limitations make a conventional drain field impossible — the BNR’s compact footprint and high-quality effluent reduce dispersal area requirements.
Failed Conventional Systems
Replacement projects where the original system has reached the end of its useful life and the site no longer supports a conventional replacement. In some cases, we can use the existing infrastructure to save the homeowner money.
County-Required Advanced Treatment
Properties in counties or zones where local regulations require advanced treatment as a condition of permit approval — the BNR satisfies most county LAMP requirements.
Properties with Drip Dispersal
Sites where the dispersal method is GeoFlow subsurface drip — the BNR’s certified effluent quality is well-suited for approved drip applications.
New Construction
New homes on parcels where advanced treatment is part of the original site design — building it right the first time avoids costly retrofits later.
What Makes the BNR Stand Out
Beyond certified treatment performance, the BNR offers practical design advantages that simplify installation and long-term ownership:
- Integrated Treatment Tank: All four treatment chambers — pre-treatment, aeration, clarification, and pump well — are contained within one concrete tank. Fewer internal connections means faster installation and fewer failure points.
- Above-Ground Controls: The Hoot Controller and aeration blower are housed in a compact protective above-ground unit, making service visits and component replacement straightforward.
- Low Service Disruption: Routine O&M service visits don’t require excavation. Access risers bring all service points to grade.
- Proven Track Record: The BNR has been the workhorse of the Hoot line for 50+ years, with thousands of systems operating successfully across the United States and Canada.
- Compatible with All Approved Dispersal Methods: Including conventional drain fields, sand filters, mound systems, and GeoFlow subsurface drip dispersal.
- California-Manufactured: Built right here in California by Superior On-Site Solutions — the only authorized Hoot manufacturer in the state. Faster delivery, direct factory support, no out-of-state shipping delays.
Inside the BNR — A Quick Overview
The BNR processes wastewater through four stages inside a single concrete tank: pre-treatment settling, aerobic biological treatment, final clarification, and dosed discharge to the dispersal field. An above-ground blower oxygenates the aeration chamber, and the Hoot Controller manages timing, alarms, and system performance.
For a detailed walk-through of the treatment process — including an interactive H600 BNR diagram showing each chamber and component — visit our How the Hoot Works page.
Manufacturer Support from Specification Through Service
As California’s only authorized Hoot manufacturer and distributor, Superior On-Site Solutions handles the manufacturer-side of every BNR project — working alongside your licensed installer and your county’s environmental health department to ensure the system is sized correctly, delivered on time, started up properly, and serviced for life.
- System Selection: We help specify the right BNR configuration for your site’s flow, soil conditions, and county requirements.
- Manufacturing & Delivery: Tanks built in California and delivered statewide.
- Tank-Top Connections & System Start-Up: After your licensed contractor sets the tank, we connect the controls, program the controller, test alarms and blower function, and verify the system is treating wastewater the way it should.
- County Coordination: We coordinate with your county for the final inspection and submit any manufacturer documentation required for permit sign-off.
- Lifetime O&M Service: California requires lifetime O&M for advanced treatment systems. Every BNR we sell comes with ongoing service from the manufacturer who built it.
- Warranty Support: 3-year non-prorated, fully transferable manufacturer’s warranty on every new BNR system.
Excavation and installation are performed by your licensed septic contractor. We coordinate with them throughout the project to make sure the system is installed correctly and ready to be turned on.
Is the BNR the Right System for Your Property?
The best way to find out is a free Hoot suitability consultation. Tell us about your site, your goals, and your county requirements — we’ll tell you whether the BNR is the right fit, or whether the ANR or another configuration would serve you better.