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harrymanimus
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2024 17:34 - Edited by: harrymanimus
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Hi,
I'm looking to install the smallest septic system I can get away with. This is for a hunting cabin, middle of the woods, would maybe get at a max 100 flushes a year.
I found a video series that looks about like what I want, but I might want to go even smaller than this guys. He gives a synopsis here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1NP9Gel9mtQ&t=11m55s
He's using 55 gallon barrel, 30 foot perforated line for the drain field. If I wanted to do a 30 gallon barrel and a shorter drain field line? Or other advice?
Thanks
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2024 19:01
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Probably simpler & a hell of a lot easier to just setup a Grey Wate type drain system for sink/ urinal, urine diverter and use a sawdust / composting toilet.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2024 19:27 - Edited by: gcrank1
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I concur, I was about ready to do a mini-septic for the two of us, hunting/recreational cabin. Then I found info about diy compost systems. It has been over two years on our diy compost system with complete satisfaction. No insects, no smell, NO more holes to dig and here a mini-septic system wouldnt pass code/inspection At All even after all that work.
Check out The Humanure Book by Jenkins and lots of info online.
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2024 19:57 - Edited by: spencerin
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harry, do you not have to adhere to code where you are?
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2024 21:54
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Around here if you dont comply doing a septic to code, starting with a permit and perc test, you have to cease use, can be fined double the permits costs, have to remove and probably pay extra fines.
Even if the thing is just a miniature that totally meets your needs and (the important part) isnt contaminating the ground water (the reason for all the codes).
They have NO sense of humor regarding this.
There is also a regulated distance from any well, spring, stream, etc.
The compost system can be used inside or out; we chose outside to get a handle on if it would be suitable for us. At this point we know we could do a 'closet' inside if we wanted to. Btw, we are in our 70's.
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harrymanimus
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2024 21:56
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I’ll look into compost systems, but I have access to the equipment to build this out, and would prefer to have a proper toilet setup.
I do not have to adhere to code where I’m located.
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909
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2024 22:48
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+1 for urine diversion & compost
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Steve_S
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2024 07:38
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I originally started with a "Sawdust Composting Toilet" with urine diverter, Urine diversion went to grey water which also takes the kitchen & bath sinks + shower & separate Urinal. This worked very well and no issues, but I did have it vented using a small 12V Computer box fan...
REF to Humanure Handbook: https://humanurehandbook.com/
It used a Urine Diverter from https://we-pee.com/ note there are 2 types, the one with extended bowl = better for the ladies.
Well that was fine until the ladies (GF and my daughters) appeared... GF no issues but... The girls had challenges with the diverter...
Solution was a Sparett "Tiny" with diversion... Far more like a regular toilet, no sawdust and VERY female friendly... They like it ! Hesitant at first but after a couple of uses, all Tickety Boo !
https://separett.com/de/en/urine-diverting-toilet-separett-tiny-with-urine-tube-2
Sparett has a few different models.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2024 08:31
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How are you going to get the solids pumped out? The turds and TP dont just disappear once there underground.
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2024 08:33
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Seems like a lot more work than just building a nice outhouse. 100 flushes a year would mean a very low use outhouse and thus no smell
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2024 11:40 - Edited by: Aklogcabin
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At our remote cabin. We have an Incinolet incinerator toilet. Uses 30 amp electrical circuit. It burns the waste. Absolutely no odors either. Just push the button and it working. To clean just empty the ash pan which has very little ash. Easy to install using a 4" abs pipe
Would work well in your situation
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paulz
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2024 13:18
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Quoting: Aklogcabin We have an Incinolet incinerator toilet. Uses 30 amp electrical circuit.
Pretty nice Ak. Wow 30 amps for how long? I might have to hold it till the solar kicks in. Or fire up the genny if it's been a big night.
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gcrank1
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2024 13:28
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Maybe in this culture we have become too used to the sop of a conventional 'septic system' that uses gross amounts of fresh water to run the stuff away and out of sight? The idea of collecting the settled solids in the bottom of the tank (keeping it out of the ground and thus out of the ground water supply for ourselves and others) and letting the liquids flow/leach into the drain field (thus into the ground) is Old Technology. As Brett said, at some point you may have clean those 'solids' out.
Well, ok, we could use gray water as the flush though that would have to be filtered (before it contaminates the fill valve assembly) to filled the flush tank.....then we would be getting dbl use of the water.
And ime with our home the reduced flush T's dont flow enough water through to do a good flush and/or really purge the sewer pipe. Yes, I did use the right pipe-pitch but in retrospect I should have gone a bit more. At least the pvc is smooth inside compared to the old cast-iron pipe. I still have to periodically dump some buckets of water in the T to purge the pipe 
Enter the composting system. It can be simple, easy and cheap or about as expensive and labor intensive as you want. We went with the former (mostly re-purposed bits so almost no cost). NO hole to dig! Same 'enclosure', a decent box to put the bucket in and for the two add-to's, the green and brown organic materials (for us that is lawn grass clippings and softwood chips). Do a 'do' and cover with handful of sawdust and two of grass. Urine is 'diverted' (though mine is often used to 'mark my territory' in the course of a day. Since this is outside I dont have to dump the bucket but only about every 7-14 days depending upon use. If we had it inside Id consider every day to just always keep up?
We have no bugs or flies to speak of, no smell, and when the bucket is 2/3 full I pop the lid, pull the bucket and take it to the 30gal plastic garbage can re-purposed to a compost bin. Toss it in and cover with more organics. That bin isnt buggy or smell either.
Bucket back into the box, a layer of grass in the bottom like a nest and ready to go.
I had originally figured Id dump the big compost bin once a year but even are 2years out and it keeps composting and settling, only about 1/2 full now.
Fwiw, the big city near us composts some of the city sewage and sells bags of fine 'gardening' compost yearly. The USDA and I believe the Forest Service use composting T's for the units 'away on out there' where they dont drive in to pump the tanks.
Ive heard some jurisdictions are now allowing compost T's for new construction.
Think of all this as a progression thought and awareness. At one time we literally 'messed up' our waterways, then used cesspools, then septic systems; what will we be using tomorrow?
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2024 21:29
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Just my opinion, but hunting cabin + 100 flushes a year + equipment + no code = nice outhouse. Or just do the mini septic like in the video. If it works, that's small enough, no need to re-work something that works and risk messing it up.....
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2024 10:18
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Paulz the Incinolet toilet takes about 40 minutes run time. I fire up the generator at the same time and charge the batteries and run the refrigerator/freezer to keep things frozen or cold.
If someone had grid power it would be perfect. But we get by fine. I can open up the shoot in it and install a bunch of good plastic garbage bags and use it a couple times and then dispose in a hot fire if I wanted to. Or put it down an outhouse hole that will get burried. I want to make an incinerator out of a 55 gallon drum with a fuel fired burner from a fuel furnace. This would burn waste also.
But firing up the generator is pretty easy and no big deal. Just always looking for different ways.
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Curly
Member
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2024 14:49
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A large septic tank with no drain field might work for your situation. You could use "normal city plumbing" and route all wastewater into the tank to satisfy timid visitors. It might also satisfy the code people if that is an issue. This works for a buddy of mine who has a cabin that is not frequently occupied. He only thinks about plumbing about every 3-4 years when he has the tank pumped.
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Brettny
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# Posted: 5 Jan 2024 18:21
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If your going to the trouble to put even a small system in in would do at least a 300gal septic tank and put it in a area that you can get a pump truck to. Just check the solids level ever few years. You may only ever have to pump it every 5-10yrs.
It's been about 4yrs on my house since my last pumping. 1000gal tank but I also know the leachfield is a sespit. So basicly its crap and will need to be replaced in the next 5-10yrs. If solids get in that (to long of a time between pumps) it's not a big deal because it's all junk anyway.
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Irrigation Guy
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# Posted: 6 Jan 2024 08:14
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I built mine with a 300 gallon tank and gravel leach field
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