[Greenbuilding] Septic for high water table area

[Sharon D. Moran]

Hello Lynelle, 

I have heard about alternative onsite septic systems that use peat moss, 
and that approach may not always require a raised bed. 
Here in upstate NY, the company Bord Na Mona (see link below) has made some installations on small-lot, lakeside cottages.

Since you mentioned wanting to be as low tech as possible, 
you might consider whether you would be comfortable with a dry toilet approach in the cottage, and if so, 
then your wastewater focus would only need to be greywater, rather than blackwater (thereby simplifying matters a bit).

While many local governments can be skeptical about alternative approaches, making it harder for innovators, 
other local governments do tons of research and provide lots of information, and this has to be one of the best out there - Massachusetts' Barnstable County: 

http://www.barnstablecountyhealth.org/resources/publications/compendium-of-information-on-alternative-onsite-septic-system-technology/peat-filter-septic-systems

-Sharon
 
________________________________________
From: Greenbuilding [greenbuilding-bounces at lists.bioenergylists.org] on behalf of Lynelle Hamilton [lynelle at lahamilton.com]
Sent: Wednesday, July 20, 2016 10:37 PM
To: greenbuilding at lists.bioenergylists.org
Subject: [Greenbuilding] Septic for high water table area

Hello all,

I'm extensively renovating a 700 sq ft cottage and will add square footage in the process. This will require replacing the septic bed as it: a) was constructed during the Defenbaker years; b) is insufficient for what will be a 3 bedroom 2.5 bath home; and c)is downright ugly and will render unusable a large chunk of a small lot.

I'm on Lake Simcoe and the the water table is high.  I've been told that "everyone" has to install a raised bed, but a number of the updated homes (including those that have added square footage) don't have one.  Are there alternatives to raised bed systems that will be as low tech as possible (e.g. eliminating the need for a pump/processing system that requires electricity and/or constatn monitoring.

I'd appreciate any thoughts folks have to offer!

Thanks,

Lynelle

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