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Small Cabin Forum / Off-Grid Living / grey water systems
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downcard11
Member
# Posted: 6 Nov 2014 13:05
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Anyone have any information on grey water systems, or a good place to find some more info on the net? It's one of the few things I've been trying to search where I can't find some good information. I know there are very simple systems and some more expensive. I will be building in Southern Vermont/The Berkshires, if that matters as far as zoning laws/permits and such. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Julie2Oregon
Member
# Posted: 6 Nov 2014 16:59
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Some folks do great homemade systems. I'm hoping to use mine as a septic alternative with my solar/wind toilet system so I am looking to install the Light model of this:
http://www.envirolet.com/greywater.html

Since it's just for me, the treatment capacity is more than enough for me and I would install it inside. I'm going to have a little "utility room" inside of my cabin.
Hope this helps!

MtnDon
Member
# Posted: 6 Nov 2014 17:11
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https://www.thenaturalhome.com/greywater.html

downcard11
Member
# Posted: 7 Nov 2014 11:11
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Thanks, folks

downcard11
Member
# Posted: 7 Nov 2014 11:17
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Anyone have any experience with these?

Jim in NB
Member
# Posted: 7 Nov 2014 11:21
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ANother source of grey water treatment info

http://www.kflapublichealth.ca/Files/Resources/Class_2_Systems___Greywater_Leaching_P its.pdf

Jim in NB
Member
# Posted: 7 Nov 2014 11:23
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They work well - important to check to ensure that it meets local standards/regs. Obviously the more grease and similar products you put down your drain the more impact you will have your soil's ability to effectively treat the water - never mind increase contamination potential of ground water.

Steve_S
Member
# Posted: 7 Nov 2014 17:06
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Something un-mentioned here...

When installing Grey-Water system... keep it "down hill" from your water source and a minimum of 75' from your water source.

I just finished 4 days of excavator & backhoe work doing mine - what a job doing it on a hill side with some steep angles... Almost tipped a couple of times with the backhoe bringing in the 3/8's drainage gravel for the 100' of drain tile.

My system goes from cabin to tank which drains into 2 long runs of drainage pipe going downhill, 4' deep into the soil. The soil is sandy loam with about 6-10" good dark earth topsoil. Biggest hurdle was the big rocks (glacial deposits) and the darned tree roots.

OHHH... When your setup with GW, stick a NOTE above every sink that this is GREY WATER and no dumping stuff into the drain ! People will & do forget, especially guests. And do use GW Friendly products, detergents & stuff.

There are many methods & ways, depending on your layout, you could even use a greenhouse as your "bed" or create a small wetland with appropriate plants.

Humanure Handbook AND Wells & Septic Systems 2nd edition are good resources to get a hold of. Not BIG on info (how to) but good discussion & reference to ponder options.

Hope it helps.
Steve

downcard11
Member
# Posted: 8 Nov 2014 23:18
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Hey thanks again everyone for the help.

redlandfd
Member
# Posted: 12 Nov 2014 18:30
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My 2 cents, I added a laundry room to my cabin, but the septic line was up hill from the washer. I built a shallow gravel pit under my deck and ran the drain pipe under the deck and to the pit (1dx3wx12L) it. The grey water runs in there overflows and is dispersed on the surface into a 20 x 20 bed/orchard of dwarf apple trees. Works great, trees are healthy and I haven't seen any gray water leave the orchard. Beyond that is a cow pasture full of poop, so if a few suds ever escaped...no biggie.

turkeyhunter
Member
# Posted: 13 Nov 2014 06:09
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I run my shower /sink drains into 1 1/2 " PVC pipe--that that runs from the camp to a UNDER pile of pine logs and limbs left over from the cabin build 3 years ago. NEVER had any problem with smell etc. And the tree's near the bush pile look very healthy. This is about 50 feet from the side of camp.

I have a friend that has a hunting camp as well, his grey water runs into a buried 5 gallon bucket full of large stones. And the bucket has lots of hole drilled in it. He been using it for over 10 years like that. The top of the bucket is about a foot under normal ground.

Littlecooner
Member
# Posted: 21 Nov 2014 07:48
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downcard11 - Go to the EPA website and download the following 400+ page manual. It was written in 1980 but is the current design manual which should answer any question you have
"Design Manual: Onsite Wastewater Treatment and Disposal Systems (PDF) (409 pp, 9MB, About PDF)"

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