Different microorganisms have different needs for oxygen, including aerobic bacteria and anaerobic bacteria.

In order to survive and proliferate, aerobic bacteria need oxygen. They can be discovered in the air, soil, and water—all places that contain oxygen. In several processes, such as the breakdown of organic matter and the treatment of wastewater, aerobic bacteria play a crucial role.

For survival and growth, anaerobic bacteria do not need oxygen. The bottom of a lake or pond, an animal’s intestines, or the silt in a septic tank are a few places where they might be discovered that lack oxygen. Numerous processes rely on anaerobic bacteria, such as the digestion of food in the intestines, the creation of some foods and beverages (including cheese, yoghurt, and beer), and the purification of wastewater.

Both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria are crucial to a septic system’s ability to process wastewater. Anaerobic bacteria decompose organic matter and generate gases (such methane and carbon dioxide) as a byproduct of their metabolism, whereas aerobic bacteria break down organic matter and assist in the removal of hazardous pathogens from wastewater.