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Small Cabin Forum / Cabin Construction / Above ground holding tank for toilet
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chris1000000
Member
# Posted: 1 Jun 2022 20:08
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Hi folks, first time poster.

I'm converting a shed into a guest house and I'm planning to have a sink and a toilet. The sink will simply drain into a gravel pit, and the toilet will go to a plastic holding tank that is vented with a vent stack to the roof. Its the same setup as a boat or RV, essentially.

By my math the 200-gal tank will need to be pumped out every year. Not a ton of visitors here. Questions:

1. Will a typical domestic septic service company pump this thing out for me or run away?

2. Is there a standard pumpout fitting I should use that septic companies will be familiar with?

3. Ive seen these above-ground holding tanks (sometimes called 'job shack tanks') under trailers up here in new england- can they handle the contents being frozen or do I need to pump out and decommission in the fall?

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 1 Jun 2022 20:15
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1 and 2 ask your local company. 3 no they cant freeze.

gcrank1
Member
# Posted: 1 Jun 2022 20:53
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Check your local septic/options code or run the risk of running afoul and in deep ....

paulz
Member
# Posted: 1 Jun 2022 21:04
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1. Yes, they do mine, 500 gallons. $100, bout once a year.

2. My tank has a screw on lid, a foot diameter. Take that off they just stick their hose in.

3. Dunno, no freezing here.

Brettny
Member
# Posted: 2 Jun 2022 06:39
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That's cheap paul. I pay $300-400 upto 1,000gal. Even $300 a year really starts to add up considering once you have a tank you have nearly 1/2 of a real septic system.

paulz
Member
# Posted: 2 Jun 2022 08:56 - Edited by: paulz
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Yeah I figured it's cheap. He's a local guy, I don't press him, just let him know it's getting up there and he comes by on the way to dumping his truck. Just hand him the hundsky. Takes about 15 minutes and he's out the gate so he makes out alright.

I have a low flow toilet with a couple of rocks in the tank, steep downhill run, only gets flushed once a day. I figure 1-2 gallons per, so even an everyday flush should go a year.

Grizzlyman
Member
# Posted: 2 Jun 2022 10:06 - Edited by: Grizzlyman
Reply 


Do you have a tank in mind?
NORWESCO

is what I used. I think I paid $275. 200 gallon holding tank designed for septic. (they also make a 300). It doesn’t say anything about freezing but I can’t imagine it not being able to be frozen. It’s thick- probably 1/4”+ tough plastic and is approved by the state of MN for this purpose.

Not sure about where you are but here at least they’re very strict about the septic here- it’s likely the same where you are…all that to say I can’t imagine it being approved and not “freezeable”.

NorthRick
Member
# Posted: 2 Jun 2022 18:41
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Quoting: Grizzlyman
Not sure about where you are but here at least they’re very strict about the septic here- it’s likely the same where you are…all that to say I can’t imagine it being approved and not “freezeable”.


The thing is, he's not talking about a septic system, just a holding tank. Whether they are allowed or not were he's at, I don't know, but if they are I imagine the rules are different because it's not an on-site wastewater treatment system.

toyota_mdt_tech
Member
# Posted: 2 Jun 2022 22:17
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We have many home developments by sensitive waterways and they all have holding tanks, its picked up monthly, not all the same time, just on a regular plan, like the weekly trash pickup, in fact, its cheaper than sewer for a month. I would just bury the tank, make it official, a service riser lid for the service guy.

Atlincabin
Member
# Posted: 2 Jun 2022 23:10
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Brettny, why do you say they can't freeze? Do you mean that it is impossible for the contents to freeze, or do you mean its inadvisable for them to freeze (because of breakage). I would think the latter, but if you have data that show the contents will not freeze even at very low temperatures, I would like to see the data. Please clarify.

Grizzlyman
Member
# Posted: 2 Jun 2022 23:17 - Edited by: Grizzlyman
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NorthRick
Correct. Link and comments for 200 gallon holding tank. “Septic “ used incorrectly instead of “waste.” My mistake.

jsahara24
Member
# Posted: 3 Jun 2022 09:46
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Where I live if you want to get a holding tank permitted, you need to sign a contract with a pumping company for them to pump out the tank on a regular period based on proposed usage.....

You need to sign an agreement with the municpality that allows them to enforce the auto pump contract and charge you if you don't follow through with your obligations......

Or you can just do it...Either way it seems like a pretty reasonable approach to cost/versus environmental consideration....

Link44
Member
# Posted: 5 Jun 2022 15:46
Reply 


I asked a local pumper here about my home made septic tank, 55 gallon drum. He said he'd pump anything, he had a customer that buried a vw bus and used it as a septic tank. Obviously that's probably not the best set up but the pumper just did his part and moved on.

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