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We pondered over how to treat our waste for quite some time.  Originally we wanted to install a composting toilet then recycle our gray water for some useful purpose.  We ran into a couple of key problems with this scenario however.  1) We had very little use for the recycled gray water.  We couldn’t introduce it back into our supply lines, and it couldn’t be used to water our food crops.  (Recycled gray water is not permitted for watering organic veggies and such, it is great for landscaping, flowers and fruit trees though!) Since we don’t have any landscaping to water the uses for it were quite limited.  Perhaps one of these days when we get fruit trees we’ll have a better case.  2)  So if we’re not able to use it, it needs to be treated and returned to the aquifer, and that’s exactly what septic systems do.  They are bio-filtration systems in essence and always have been even before that term became so groovy.   And they aren’t cheap, so paying for a septic system then a $2,000 composting toilet became a crunch on the ol’ budget.

That’s why we decided to go with a traditional septic system.  We will adapt some smaller scale gray water recycling into our system where we can.  Such as a sink to toilet system pictured to the right here.  (Click on pic to purchase.)  And perhaps something that recycles water from the laundry.

Here’s a link I was just sent by a friend on FriendFeed for a system that I would love to try one of these days when we find a use for the gray water.  http://www.homegrownevolution.com/2010/06/laundry-to-landscape-20.html (Thank you WorldofHiglet!)

So that being said… here’s our septic system going in:

After clearing the area (only 1-2 trees with larger than a 3in. diameter trunk had to go), they begin digging the trench from the building and the hole the tanks will go in.

Next, the tank truck arrives and deposits it’s load, where we will too one of these days…

To save some costs I ran all the electrical for the system and installed the pump controls.

Then the lateral line holes were dug, they were lined with rock and the piping was installed.

Finally the inspector was called and they preformed a pressure test.

We passed inspection with no hitches and the contractors did a great job of grading out the site.  Alex and I will transplant a myriad of different wildflowers and grasses from other areas of the property to get this area rehabbed as quickly as possible.

We’re still planning on installing our solar panels over the south end of the drain field as we mentioned here.  That way we get double use out of the cleared ground and don’t have to disturb any more areas.

We’re looking forward to having the drywall completed and finish work done so we can experience the pleasures of a flush toilet in our daily lives once again.  Until then there is a lot of work to do, and I better go get after it.  Talk to you soon!

-Scott