Septic solution for cottage/cabin

[Chris]

I have a small cottage/cabin (26' x 24'), small budget, where living for weekends and vacation, 2 adults. I did the construction myself (extending a 10'x10' existing one). There is not a septic installation; so far the toilet is outside, also I made myself an outside shower. There is not running water, only rain water or bring water from a spring (when not raining). I am collecting water into a 250 gal water tank. I am thinking to have an inside toilet and a shower. I did prevue a separate room for that. I would like to use these facilities during the winter also, (ski season), when frequently -20 C. What would be the solution to have an inside toilet and shower? There is also a boiler for hot water. Is a septic fosse a good solution if not having running water? Any other solution?

Thank you, Chris

[JoeSpareBedroom]

What about a composting toilet? I've seen two that worked very badly, and two that worked beautifully, so you'd need to do some research, obviously. No water needed.

[Red]

I have known of cases where infrequent usage such as yours was handled by a couple of buried 55 gal drums instead of a septic tank. Just keep the gray water (sinks & showers) drained to a separate source. You should get a good response to this question at alt.survival.

-Red

[harleyron]

A question was posted on alternative waste disposal methods and to this I say:

Composting toilets don't work well if your climate is cold and are infrequently used. They need A bit of heat in order to keep them activated. In my opinion your best option is an Incinolet toilet (incinolet.com) These toilets use electricity (110 or 220) to incinerate the solid waste that you can than put in the compost pile or trash from time to time. I intend on putting one in my basement as my sewer discharge is higher than the basement floor and I don't care to mess around with pumps down there. The only problem is they are not cheap starting at $1600.00 for there cabin size unit. As to your grey water you might get by with A dry well but your local building code dept. should be consulted on that.

Good Luck! H.R.

[Goedjn]

In my opinion, your best bet is to dig a deep hole and a lot of trenches, and put in a digester and drainfield.

But that's just me.

Failing that, put in a holding tank, and pay someone with a truck to come pump it out once a year.

[Lawrence]

On Feb 21, 12:46 pm, "Chris" wrote:There

Right now I use a 5 gal bucket fitted with a toilet seat. They sell them at places like Cabela's camping supply. I keep a trash barrel full of either sawdust or potting soil and cover promptly. This way you can have the pooper indoors where it's warm. When I'ts full you carry it out to your compost site where you keep it well coverd. The must read book on this topic is found at this link:

I have hot showers at home but bathing can be done by filling a tank like they use to feed horses. Pipe in water and heat it on the cook stove. The tank can be stored elswhere when not in use. Smaller bowls can be use for cleaning hands, face and privates. A sink can be installed to just run out onto the ground or maybe a dry well.

Any truckstop gives free showers for truckers and they don't care if you are a real trucker or not. Just show up with your duffel bag and head for the shower. It's nice if you buy some gas. It is always a private shower where you can lock the door behind. You can bring the glock if worried.

[Steve B]

This is what we do:

In the winter, we haul water up in 55 gallon barrels when the snow is not too deep. At times, there is just NO way except to snowshoe or snowmobile.

I have a pump, and we pump it to two 55 gallon drums in the loft. We have a winter piping system of plastic pipes. This gives enough water to flush the toilet, and to take showers with Solar Showers, and water heated on the stove. You just have to be careful when you leave any standing water to put some RV antifreeze in there or your p traps will burst. Upon leaving, you also have to antifreeze everything.

Remember that you are required to get a septic permit, and they can be downright difficult to deal with if you do it illegally, up to the point of them digging it up and billing you.

Steve

[lp13-30]

The suggestion about truck stop showers brought back memories-- and a laugh. Back in 1989 we had a hard freeze and my pipes were frozen solid. A nearby truck stop advertised "Free showers with Diesel fillup", so I took them up on their offer. Filled up my Isuzu Diesel car with about 8 gallons and got my shower. Larry