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septic tank on our hunting ground

arthurs_family
Explorer
Explorer
Ive been doing a little research on making a smaller grade version of a septic tank system for our 5th wheel. Has anyone done this recently? It looks like in our county we can just run into a lagoon but i rather keep the mess underground.
2006 F350 Lariat 4X4 LB,CC,PSD
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2006 Gulf Stream Canyon Trail 30FBRG
Loving wife,2 boys,1 princess, and 2 pups.
19 REPLIES 19

ken_white
Explorer
Explorer
PNW_Steve wrote:
I run a hose 75' away from my trailer and use my grey water to water the bushes.

I use a macerator pump to empty my black tank into a 270 gallon "tote". Once or twice a year I call the portapotty folks and they come out and pump it out for $90.


X2...
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DutchmenSport
Explorer
Explorer
Old-Biscuit wrote:
Homemade septic barrel system........LINK


A few years ago, my mother's neighbor attempted to do something exactly like this. Although located in the county, the area is zoned for specific septic tank, acreage, single family, property size restriction.

When he attempted to put a mobile home on his property and was trying to slide it in as a "work shop" and proceeded to run electric lines from his house to the trailer and then water lines, and then started digging the septic, (and he did his work at night, after dark), the county found out and shut him down REAL fast. He even had to move the mobile home off the property, dig up the barrel, and inspectors came back to verify the hole in the ground did not contain a barrel. They stayed until it was covered back up with dirt.

So you know, although the barrel septic tank may work in some places, if it breaks zoning ordinances, don't do it!

What was the result of all that electrical and plumbing work? Well, the guy ended up building "shed" (on the outside) and on the inside, made space for living quarters. We do not know, but we think he went ahead and re-installed the barrel septic system so he could have a flushing toilet in the shed. No one will really know, as he has no intentions of letting anyone inside that shed! That was some 15 years ago. My opinion? If he did do the illegal septic system ... ah... what's a little more poop in the ground anyway!

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
Homemade septic barrel system........LINK
Is it time for your medication or mine?


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luvourtoys
Explorer
Explorer
We use a hose to drain our gray water in the woods, and a Thetford Curve porti potty on our 6 acres. We have a hole dug where we dump the porti potty black tank contents. In our county holding tanks that get pumped out are not allowed, and a septic system needs permits, approved plans and installed by certified contractor.
Jennifer
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PNW_Steve
Explorer
Explorer
I run a hose 75' away from my trailer and use my grey water to water the bushes.

I use a macerator pump to empty my black tank into a 270 gallon "tote". Once or twice a year I call the portapotty folks and they come out and pump it out for $90.
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laknox
Nomad
Nomad
arthurs family wrote:
Thanks for the replys. The ground is very rocky and its going to be a chore to dig. We've used a backhoe in the past to dig and have broke teeth off. The county is not as strict as I am as far as code enforcement. Im going to attempt a 4 barrel system with a drainfield if I can get 4 in the ground. Our outhouse works but my wife would like to come meaning I need to build a septic system.


Seriously, check into the composting systems. There are several areas here in AZ with vacation homes in very rocky areas, and many of them use composting toilets. Don't know if they make a "septic system", but the principle should be the same.

Lyle
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OliverGreen
Explorer
Explorer
This is a great read and informative post. I am also planning to have additional septic tank system and I am glad I was able to join the community. I always wanted to dispose my waste in a clean and eco-friendly as possible and drain cleaning without giving problems to the community.

arthurs_family
Explorer
Explorer
Thanks for the replys. The ground is very rocky and its going to be a chore to dig. We've used a backhoe in the past to dig and have broke teeth off. The county is not as strict as I am as far as code enforcement. Im going to attempt a 4 barrel system with a drainfield if I can get 4 in the ground. Our outhouse works but my wife would like to come meaning I need to build a septic system.
2006 F350 Lariat 4X4 LB,CC,PSD
2001 F250 XLT 4X4 SB,CC,Gas Hogger
2006 Gulf Stream Canyon Trail 30FBRG
Loving wife,2 boys,1 princess, and 2 pups.

Dayle1
Explorer II
Explorer II
Another option is bury a 1500 gal. concrete septic tank, but with no outlet, so it is just a storage tank. A 30 gal black tank should be good for two weeks, plus another 30 gal. for clean out. So, 1500 gal. of storage will handle about a years worth of sewage. Have it pumped out each year for $200-$250. If you are only using the hunting site 3-4 months each year, then clean out every two years will work. Since there is no discharge, permits or inspections don't really apply.
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stetwood
Explorer
Explorer
For my shop I made a sawdust toilet. Just a simple box with a toilet lid on it. I put a garbage can liner in the pail and that goes into the wood heater when it is "full" of waste and sawdust. Of course liquids generally go other places. I would suggest a two holer, one for solids one for liquids. The liquid is loaded with nitrogen and will make the grass greener.

469whj469
Explorer
Explorer
On my small ranch in SE Texas we have a septic system that I, together with my son and son-in-law installed in about 7 hours. it is the only one on the ranch.
We did it without permits and knowone else knows that we did it. This was done for a total of $1,100 including rental of the backhoe. Had I got permits, $300, which includes a test that would have required a licensed installer and a arobic system at cost of $7,000 plus. Good Luck

A_hitch_and_hop
Explorer
Explorer
Here is a link that you might want to look at for instruction on building a RV septic system.

http://www.ehow.com/how_7550517_construct-small-rv-septic-system.html

laknox
Nomad
Nomad
There are composting toilets made. Don't know if one could be modded into a "septic" system, but can't hurt to ask.

Lyle
2022 GMC Sierra 3500 HD Denali Crew Cab 4x4 Duramax
B&W OEM Companion & Gooseneck Kit
2017 KZ Durango 1500 D277RLT
1936 John Deere Model A
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DennisG9
Explorer
Explorer
Make sure your system can handle the volume of yur tank. I was in a remote area with one of those burried barrel tanks. After a while I couldn't empty the intire tank at one time.

This leads to solids left behind and the proverbial poop piles. Cleaning out a backed up holding tank is not fun!