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Rickety_Jim
Member
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2017 12:17pm
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Hello all,
I've been lurking this board for a few months now and finally decided to post. My wife and I have been talking about selling our city home and buying some land to build a cabin for about 6 years now. I've been doing a lot of "homework" and trying to get a gauge on what our costs will be.
We're looking at northern Wisconsin (currently in SE WI) for our land purchase. I've looked at a few of the county websites to get an idea of what's permissible as far as composting toilets go. Most seem to require an "approved" CT, which I find a real drag. We really don't need an electronic-super-crapper.
I thought I might get around this with a privy and then just use a CT of my own design instead. However, in some counties (maybe all?) if you have a privy, then you cannot have running water in your cabin. That's just not going to happen. Do I just need to bite the bullet and go septic system? That's quite a bit of added cost but the wife won't do without running water.
Then comes the matter of grey water. Regulations are pretty strict as to what methods/systems are "up to code". These 2 issues have me somewhat stumped. Any insight would be appreciated!
I have other questions as well, but I suppose I'll leave this for now. In other news, the Uniform Building Code is perhaps the most mind numbing, boredom laden thing I've ever attempted to read.
-Jim
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2017 02:43pm
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The rule regarding privies and running water seem to be straightforward... if you have running water, then no privy. Looks like you need a septic if you want running water and if you do not want an approved composting toilet. Septic also solves the grey water issue. Sanitary codes are there for a reason; protect ground water and public health.
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toyota_mdt_tech
Member
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2017 02:44pm
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Simple solution, septic. Most rural areas, its a $3500 if you install it yourself. As long as you dont have clay soil or in sensitive areas, its not too bad in cost.
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Thelar
Member
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2017 03:03pm
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Getting a PERK test before you build will help you determine where the septic can go. Hopefully downhill from your cabin. I think a lot of folks get excited about building a cabin and don't plan everything they need or want before they start. A good plan can save you money and time in the big picture. Regardless of the regulation, if the Wife wants running water and toilet, you better plan on one. Happy Wife happy life.
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Nate R
Member
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2017 03:07pm
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I don't know of another solution than to bite the bullet on septic for your situation.
I live in SE WI, but have land in Marinette county, but no cabin yet, just a camper.
We went the privy route, but are not planning on full-timing there in the future, and accept the limitation that we won't have water piped into the eventual cabin. We CAN have a well, but not piped into the cabin, as far as I can tell. So that may be something we do down the road.
I haven't found good information at all for greywater in WI. Seems to me the view is that it should end up treated somehow/somewhere, but a pit privy is OK. 
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bldginsp
Member
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2017 05:09pm
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They don't want you to have running water with a privy because the privy isn't capable of handling the volume of water. I wonder what they would say if you suggested installing a grey water system for showers and sinks, and a privy for toilet. A grey water system will handle the volume of water, but costs less than a full septic to install.
As said above, full septic takes care of all problems. Cost of a septic can be low or high depending on your soil, topography, local requirements etc. I'd research it closely so you know, a good way to do that is talk to a local backhoe operator who has done septics in the area. He will be able to tell you all the ins and outs of local requirements
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Ptomaine
Member
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2017 06:15pm
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I have a cabin in Price county (northern Wisconsin). The whole county is pretty much a bog. I made inquiries about sanitary permit and was told that most likely, I would have to go the 'mound system' route if I wanted any septic system other than a privy; a new privy would most likely have to be vaulted as the bottom of a pit toilet has to be 3 feet above the high water mark.
The cost of a mound system would run over $10,000.
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don62
Member
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2017 11:07pm
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Can you do a holding tank? I just put one in at my cabin, its a thousand gallon and will be pumped out yearly.
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bldginsp
Member
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# Posted: 6 Mar 2017 11:16pm
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Quoting: Ptomaine The cost of a mound system would run over $10,000.
I've heard much higher quotes for engineered mound systems, and I have heard of them failing. To be avoided at all costs
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Gary O
Member
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# Posted: 7 Mar 2017 02:10am
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Quoting: Rickety_Jim Do I just need to bite the bullet
I have only one bit of advice;
Do NOT! 'pull the trigger' while biting the bullet!!!
We are a bit backwoodsy, so I won't advise you to do what we do with do
but
As Smith Barney’s John Houseman would say, sorta;
We do it the old fashion way, we burrrn it
Yes, we have a privy, or Loo
and a bucket
Winter, we burn
summer we compost
but
that's us
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Nate R
Member
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# Posted: 7 Mar 2017 10:41am
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Not sure what counties OP is looking in, but I believe a holding tank is only allowed in my county IF there's no other feasible option (Conventional or mound system)
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Rickety_Jim
Member
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# Posted: 7 Mar 2017 12:12pm
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Thanks for all the responses!!
As I said, I'm trying my best to do my homework before buying anything. Now back to my search of county websites - oh, the joy.
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itsals1
Member
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# Posted: 9 Mar 2017 07:54am
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Jim
We have a small trappers cabin in Washburn County. We bought our cabin in 2013, was built in 2006. We have electric and well with grey water drain field, and a privy (we call ours a outhouse 😄).
The privy has a 55 gallon plastic barrel (top removed) installed under it. This is considered a holding tank. We have it pumped as needed. This has worked well for our needs, simple and legal.
Feel free to let me know if I could help you in your cabin search.
Travis
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Littlecooner
Member
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# Posted: 10 Mar 2017 09:52am
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Rickety Jim - in your search of county websites, I hope you are looking at the requirements of each county. you can google "Private Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems" for the county you are researching and find requirements, etc. If you desire running water in the cabin, I to would recommend providing in ground wastewater treatment for all the water and life will be more pleasant at the cabin. Careful research in your chosen county would yield an estimation of cost. If you are going total off grid, no water, etc, then save the money. If you are connecting to electricity, dig a well, put in a treatment system and enjoy life by sitting on the porch.
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