Traditionally, if your home's plumbing wasn't connected to a main sewer line, you needed to install a septic tank, but now, you also have the option of installing a domestic treatment plant from a company like Econocycle. There are pros and cons to both options, but here's a look at four signs you may prefer a domestic treatment plant:

1. You have rocky and unyielding ground on your property.

In most cases, people bury their domestic treatment plants, but they don't have to. The tanks that make up a domestic treatment plant are typically made of polypropylene or other sturdy plastics, and you can install these tanks above the ground.

This allows you to have more flexibility than you would have with a septic tank, as they all need to be buried beneath the ground.

2. You want cleaner effluent.

Septic tanks break down waste into tiny particles that can be safely absorbed by the ground around the tank, but domestic treatment plants work a little differently. They rely on organic materials and filters to break down the waste, and by the time the waste has finished moving through the domestic treatment plant, it is clean enough to be released into nearby waterways or safely into the ground.

If you prefer your effluent to be as clean as possible, you may want to opt for a domestic treatment plant.

3. You don't mind scheduling and paying for maintenance.

Septic tanks work automatically, and unless there is a problem, you typically don't have to schedule service for your septic tank. Some homeowners like to empty the solid waste out of their tanks once in awhile, but others safely use their septic tanks for years without needing service.

Domestic treatment plants, in contrast, require regular servicing. You need a domestic treatment plant expert to come by occasionally and ensure that all of the organic elements are at the right levels. The service schedule varies based on the type of domestic treatment plant you buy, how many people live in your home and other factors.

4. You can easily bring electricity into your yard.

Almost all domestic treatment plants require electricity to work. The electricity powers the pump as well as other elements of the plant, and without it, your plant won't treat sewage water. Septic tanks, in contrast, don't require electricity to work.

If you don't have any way to bring electricity to your plot, you must opt for a septic tank instead. For example, if you have an off-the-grid cabin with no electricity and you bring in tanks of water, you likely have to opt for a septic tank over a domestic power plant.