Comments on: It Has to go Somewhere!

By: Water Waste Management – Residential Wastewater Treatment Systems

Water Waste Management – Residential Wastewater Treatment Systems — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:07:36 +0000

[...] storehouse of information on industrial products/services. Mouse here forRelated LinksRelated LinksIt Has to go Somewhere! Water and Waste Management Systems Part II Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: consultants, environment, environmental engineering, [...]

By: Bill Young

Bill Young — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 22:30:16 +0000

If code will allow, a possible middle ground solution would be a composting toilet and a gray water holding tank . I think you could drain a lot of the gray water on the ground or a garden and not have the holding tank pumped very often. The biggest water users are the toilet and a shower so if you eliminate a flush toilet and keep your showers down to a gallon or two, plus divert some gray water you don’t need a big gray water holding tank.

Bill…. gypsycoach.com

By: Susan McReynolds

Susan McReynolds — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 19:22:44 +0000

I will look into the incinolet more now as you mentioned a solar system can run it. The composting system has also been recommended by an old-timer in my preserve who feels it works great and is not stinky. I have been throwing powdered lime into the outhouse hole for smell control, but my daughter told me to get the lime pellets instead because the powdered stuff will drift up and sting a man’s “weenie”. (I was discreetly informed when her hubby visited). For now, the old outhouse is the best solution, but I am trying to plan the RIGHT way for when we put in a well.

By: Arlos

Arlos — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:37:24 +0000

Waste ponds or more appropriately termed, “FACULTATIVE PONDS”are engineered and not an end dumping point for waste water. I should have been spending the winter in Mexico, rebuilding one but that’s another story these by design have a anerobic layer at the bottom and aerobic layer at the top where wter is lifted and mixed with air from a pump which also helps to keep this from freezing in the winter.
Aerobic digesters like HOOT, bio-microbics FAST SYSTEM and ADVANTEX in most areas now are required as an alternative to passive septics but are more expensive yet require far less of a foot print for discharge and meet many new, more restrictive. environmental codes.
Here is the site for Incinolet, http://www.incinolet.com/ this has proven to be a perfect alternative where plumbing is difficult and where a simple gray water system can be used for other household waste. A simple solar system with battery back up can supply all the power needs for this with one or two people.

By: john

john — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 17:06:47 +0000

I really like posts lately on some of the technical aspects of tiny home living. I have always enjoyed seeing the different design ideas and the variety of homes but it is helpful to read some of the technical issues people deal with in making this change work and how they overcame them. Thanks for this.

By: Mo Skba

Mo Skba — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 15:37:06 +0000

It is not just third world nations that pollute with an open sewer… Victoria British Columbia Canada’s sewer was/is dumped raw into the Straight of Juan De Fuca. There have been protests for as long as I can remember. I’ve heard they’ve recently decided to look into it but don’t know if they’ve actually done anything about it.

By: Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell

Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:30:00 +0000

I haven’t researched these at all. Hopefully, someone here can help!

By: Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell

Kerri Fivecoat-Campbell — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 03:26:38 +0000

Peter,
I didn’t suggest anyone put in a lagoon. This article wasn’t meant to suggest one system over another. However, lagoon systems do exist in the U.S. as we looked at many properties that had these types of wastewater systems. This article was only meant to inform people of the types of systems available. I don’t believe many municipalities would allow lagoon systems now, but someone who is buying property with a small house already constructed might find this type of system already there.

By: Peter Ehlert

Peter Ehlert — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 02:47:19 +0000

Your “Wastewater Lagoon” notion is unsafe and unhealthy. Here in the ‘third world’ of Mexico you will see open sewer like that but it is only in the very worst of poverty, thankfully rare.

A plethora of Deadly Diseases are spread by open sewerage, much more than any swine flu or other boutique malady of the day.

An old fashion out house works well and is light years ahead of “sewerage in a pit”.

Please retract your statement!

By: gmh

gmh — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:40:06 +0000

Oh- by the way, did you guys know that George Washington composted human waste? His outhouses were built with drawers in them so the waste could be easily re-used. The humanure was used on the flower garden, not on the veggie garden (he had cow manure for that…).
Just a little history tidbit for you.