holding tank vs. septic tank

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O.K. we have the property its beautiful isolated and on a year round creek the problem is getting through the county red tape to build. The house we are planning to build is a rustic barn style. we were thinking of obtaining a permit for a barn, adding power and a well, finishing the inside as a residence and installing a holding tank rather than a 20,000. septic. We have'nt investigated much beyond this point and my husband suggested we put it before the board for comment. Anyone with any ideas on this subject please educate us thanks.

-- ronda johnson (thejohnsons_doty@hotmail.com), August 21, 2000

Answers

Do you mean a $20,000 septic system? No you cannot put in your own homemade tank, has to meet codes or you'll end up like we did and waiting 2 and a half yrs for electricity. where are you located, what part of the country? Codes vary and you might be able to. This is what our son the plumber said, he also installs wells and septics. good luck, hope this helps.

-- Bernice (geminigoats@yahoo.com), August 21, 2000.

yes I mean 20,000. for a designed sand filtered system in western washington. We were planning on having the holding tank professionally installed. I dont understand why we cant run electricity for the barn and the animals need water so a well can be drilled.

-- ronda (thejohnsons_doty@hotmail.com), August 21, 2000.

yes I mean 20,000. for a designed sand filtered system in western washington. We were planning on having the holding tank professionally installed. I dont understand why we cant run electricity for the barn and the animals need water so a well can be drilled. The only problem I forsee is if we should ever try to sell we couldnt sell it as a home.

-- ronda (thejohnsons_doty@hotmail.com), August 21, 2000.

I am having a bit of trouble comprehending a $20,000 septic system. It defies logic....How many bids have you taken on the prospected septic system? Depending on your perk tests, local codes, and contractors, you might be able to do a leach field for grey water and a smaller septic system. Essentially a septic system is a holding tank attached to a leach field. I'm sorry if I am not understanding you prop

-- Doreen (liberty546@hotmail.com), August 21, 2000.

the county we live in has very restrictive septic requirements also the added feature of the creek is causing problems. The county ordered an above ground sand filtered system. The local engeneers quoted it at 20,000. thats more than the property cost us. Two of our neighbors have installed holding tanks these need to be pumped periodiacally. Unfortunately one of the neighbors has since passed away and the others are not in residence at the home they own. So we don't have any information from them. What we want to know is if anyone else has gone this route.

-- ronda (thejohnsons_doty@hotmail.com), August 21, 2000.


Could you use a composting toilet? Down here they have a in ground treatment plant that airates and circulates the sewage. It comes out clean enough to pump into a pond or stream.

-- Mike (AR) (mike.jennings@eritter.net), August 21, 2000.

When I was a youngster my parents owned a small shopping center. At one end a larger store was built and used as a supermarket. Really don't understand why, but it couldn't be put on a septic system, like our house was behind the store at the other end. They had to put in an above ground system. Bascially it was a large holding tank, I'd say maybe 12'x20'x6 feet deep. From there a sump pump spread the water over a sand filled blockwall pit. I remember the sand had to be brought to Florida from someplace like Alabama. It really wouldn't surprise me if it would have cost $20,000 in today's cost.

-- Ken S. in TN (scharabo@aol.com), August 21, 2000.

$20,000 for a designed septic system sounds high but I believe it. One of the reasons I left western NY was because the county I lived in would no longer allowed tanks and leach fields or dry-well/ seepage pits. At that time a basic system was running $12,000 for a sand bed filter. Holding tanks were not allowed.

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), August 22, 2000.

I know $20,000 for a designed septic system sounds high but I believe it. One of the reasons I left western NY was because the county I lived in would no longer allowed tanks and leach fields or dry-well/ seepage pits. At that time a basic system was running $12,000 for a sand bed filter. Holding tanks were not allowed.

-- Hendo (redgate@echoweb.net), August 22, 2000.

Around here I think its called a mound system. They can be pricey but $20G sounds like alot.

-- john leake (natlivent@pcpros.net), August 22, 2000.


Wow. I am sorry for being so incredulous. I had no idea that those things could cost so much. I think that if I were in that situation I would seriously check into the composting toilets. An expensive one. Best of luck to you. I hope you can find a more affordable method!

-- Doreen (liberty546@hotmail.com), August 22, 2000.

$20,000 is slightly high around here, but it's not out of the question (I live in western WA, also). The soils around here are usually pretty clay-ey, and in some new developments, a lot of the topsoil has been scraped away. The code requires these filtered mound systems for septic design. In your case it sure sounds like with the creek, and a poor soil perk, a mound system will be the only thing they will likely approve, because of the seepage into the creeks. The salmon protection/clean water legislation is causing prices of development to skyrocket.

Forum readers in other areas: Please understand that our region is under seige from masses of people moving here and the impact is being felt everywhere. The folks who are in charge of making these decisions (local county folks responding to state and county legislation) don't really have a lot of time to spend on exceptions, unfortunately, because they are dealing with a huge backlog of permits. At any rate, real estate costs are very high; kids can't afford to buy homes; and the general outlook is looking restrictive. That's one reason why we are looking to move to E. Washington in the next few years.

I really hope you can find a good way around this. Or perhaps you can find some special low interest financing to help?

For potential future purchasers in areas like this, it might be a good idea to write a clause such as "subject to: perk test approval and gravity filter system" or whatever the wording is (ask your real estate person...I'm neither that nor a lawyer) before signing the final papers. Just a thought.

Good luck ronda.

-- sheepish (rborgo@gte.net), August 22, 2000.


My husband and I live in Western Washington...about 35 miles south of Seattle. I agree with all of you, the cost of land/homes in this state is absolutely out of range for a young couple such as ourselves. We are priced totally out of the market. Consequently, in order to start our homestead, we have to relocate. We have found 10 beautiful acres in Central Texas for a song compared to here. Septic systems down there run about $2500. Best of luck to you.

-- Karen H. (karlog@rocketmail.com), August 24, 2000.

Ronda, They really do hold all the aces. You either have to play their game or "buy the pot" which can get very expensive. I have spoken with people in other states and its pretty uniform all over. Here in Alabama to get electricity and water to a residence, you gotta have "indoor plumbing". A few years back our hunt club tried to turn on power to a 30s era house with well, had to install septic and county water first. The only possible options you "may" have is total off grid, expensive also.

-- Jay Blair (jayblair678@yahoo.com), August 27, 2000.

This subject is all too farmiliar to me. My husband & I recently bought 16 ac. in Western PA. We are being forced to install a drip irrigation system. Cost of testing and design was $6,000 and the system will cost an additional $25,000!!! I have been dealing with this for 2 years now. We are not permitted to build without this system. I have found a state program that lends up to 25K for on-lot sewage systems, but the catch is that you must be residing on the property to qualify. How are we supposed to do one without the other? Feel free to email me with any questions...I may be able to give some guidance :-)

-- Liezl (liezl@stargate.net), July 31, 2001.


I have a real problem...I live on 40 acres in the middle of Alaska. It is so remote I don't even have a road. My husband and I drive as far as we can then we canoe across the river to our cabin. We have hand driven a sand point well so we have running water. But now I would like a flush toilet. But have no way to install a septic tank. Is there anything we can use to make a homemade leach field system? We have an outhouse now. But at 40 to 50 below it is quite a challange! Any information would be greatly appreaiciated. But remember we have no road. Please e-mail answer to kimopatra@yahoo.com Thanks!!

-- kim ruth (kimopatra@yahoo.com), August 27, 2001.

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