Once I got married and moved to the city, we lived in apartments and houses that were connected to the municipal septic treatment system. When we moved back to the country, we switched back to an individual system. The easiest way to find out is to ask the seller of the land or a real estate agent, if one is involved. Our system cost approximately $3500, including materials, labor, and permits. Every flush uses water that would not otherwise be used. The first disadvantage is the cost. Other than that, the biggest downsides to not having a septic system appear to be the inconvenience and the perception of others. Readers will be have the opportunity to share in my successes as well as failures, and learn from my mistakes as I try to find my way through this complex world in which we live. For example, if the property has a high water table, a sand or mound system might be recommended and designed, or if soil permeability is an issue, a pump system might be an alternative. If a sewer system is available, local regulations may require that you pay the sewer connection fees before a building permit is issued. I will readily admit that walking to an outhouse in the middle of the winter is a big inconvenience, and is not something I'm eager to do. Please reference the Terms of Use and the Supplemental Terms for specific information related to your state. This is on top of the cost of hiring the professional to perform or review a site evaluation and draft the septic design. (If not, you’ll need a septic system.) But unless you’re content to use an outhouse, you’ll want to find out whether a sewer system is available for the property, or whether you’ll need to install one. If the property is served by a sewer system, things are pretty simple. This blog documents my journey as I transition to living a more simple, self-sufficient, and sustainable lifestyle. I do currently collect urine, to be used on the garden and in the compost. If you know that municipal water is available on the property, chances are the property is also served by a sewer system. You must ensure that there will be enough room to install the septic system in a suitable location, in addition to a well (if necessary), and still have room to build the size of home you desire in an acceptable location. There are some good resources available on the topic of recycling or composting human waste. The answer can affect not only your overall plans for the property, but your construction timeframe and budget. Septic systems also waste water, even if the most efficient fixtures available are used. Sewer systems typically exist in areas of high population densities (due to the need to treat and dispose of large amounts of community wastewater). Granted, we may discover that the sacrifice is greater than we imagined, since neither of us have lived with a septic system before, but we will happily take that chance. These can be completed by the local health department or a licensed site evaluator or engineering firm. So, if the property is in a city, town, or a highly populated area, a public sewer system probably exists. (In fact, you probably won’t be allowed to “go rogue” and construct your own septic, or alternative wastewater treatment system, even if you wanted to.). These restrictions might severely impact where you can build your home. Before installing a septic system, you will need to ensure that you comply with the applicable laws, first by obtaining a septic permit, probably from the county in which the land is located. Since the results of a site evaluation can greatly impact the value of the property, it’s wise to condition the purchase of any vacant land without sewer service on receiving an acceptable site evaluation. Having a septic system certainly does not prevent me from doing this, but having a composting toilet with urine diverter would make it easier. The thought of living without a septic system seems like a minor inconvenience, at most, if properly planned for. One of the best ways involves installing a septic system. We actually have an old outhouse on our property, but I have never even stepped foot inside of the structure, because I can never think to check it out during the winter when it would be easy and safe to get to it. My primary concerns with not having a septic system are environmental, but as long as waste is handled, stored, and dealt with properly there is no real reason for concern. I think of a septic system as more of a luxury than a necessity. If the results of the site evaluation show that your land is unsuitable for a conventional septic system, an engineer or septic design professional must design an alternative system. In some situations, however, the disruption may be much more of a concern. The most sanitary way to do this is to urinate or defecate directly into the plastic bag, and there are some contraptions available that make this easy to do. For example, if the property has a high water table, a sand or mound system might be recommended and designed, or if soil permeability is an issue, a pump system might be an alternative. Of course, you could consider eliminating your need for a large septic system altogether. Surely we can manage to get by without one. Unlike conventional septic systems … I'll discuss topics such as alternative building methods, energy conservation, gardening, pets, finances, and much more. Your use of this website constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use, Supplemental Terms, Privacy Policy and Cookie Policy. Plastic Sleeve Toilets Another way to dispose of toilet waste without any sort of sewer, septic or water access is to enclose it in a plastic bag and place this in the trash. If there’s no one immediately available to ask, you can look for clues on your own. Last, but not least, is the issue that by using a septic system we are missing out on the benefits of using the organic material and nutrients included in the waste being flushed away. The house I lived in while growing up had a single family septic system. Most site evaluations must include a topography assessment, as well as a soils test (including a percolation or “perc” test). I have previously reviewed the book. These apply specifically to individual systems, and not municipal systems, which have their own disadvantages that I will not go into here. I understand that many people are squeamish about collecting and using solid waste, especially on food crops, but when composted it can be safely applied to trees and non-edible plants used for landscaping. You can find out the amount charged for sewer connection fees and get an idea of monthly sewer service costs by inquiring with the service provider, the property’s seller, or an involved real estate agent. As surprising as it might seem, there are actually several disadvantages to installing a septic system. Composting toilets use little or no water, run on batteries or electricity, and can be self-contained or connected to a separate composting system. Septic systems must be set back a certain distance from wells and other water sources, as well as from roads, driveways, buildings, other improvements, and property lines. When compared to a thousand dollar composting toilet, or a five dollar bucket, that is quite expensive. Alternative septic systems are essentially modifications of conventional septic systems, specifically engineered to work with the soils and topography found on a particular property. I can barely remember the outhouse at my grandmother's house, but it was rarely used when I was a kid because they had installed indoor plumbing years earlier. Yes, it is technically necessary to have one, to comply with many local building codes, but aside from that, one really isn't necessary. An experienced real estate attorney should be able to assist you with creating such a contingency in your purchase contract. Before purchasing a septic tank from a supplier, make sure that installing one will not result in hefty fines and even possible criminal charges in … People survived for thousands of years without septic systems, and millions of people still do so today. I understand that many people are squeamish about collecting and using solid waste, especially on food crops, but when composted it can be safely applied to trees and non-edible plants used for landscaping.

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