Two weeks ago we talked about small land improvements that will help you enjoy your property most and that will keep your property value as high as possible. Today we are going to break off from that and discuss a few items in more detail to help with this process.
No matter how you plan on using your land, a septic system is easily the most reasonable plan. If you decide against a septic system, your other options are composting toilet or an outhouse. Both require additional work but have their pros and cons. We will discuss those more in our off-grid living post.
Here’s the most simple explanation of how a septic system works. Water from the home is flushed or sent downtime drain to the septic tank, the tank has bacteria in it to help decompose and clean the waste water. Solids remain in the tank while the waste water is sent out to a drain field where bacteria continues to treat the water one last time before it is released back into the ground soil.
That’s the simple version. Links included at the bottom of this article will go into much more depth. So now knowing how a septic system work, we need to talk about what is involved. Here again is a simple list:
– Pipe from the home/cabin
– Septic tank
– Distribution box
– Drainage pipes
All of this must be installed professionally under ground after a percolation test shows that the water can be absorbed into the ground properly. This is one of the only restrictions to a septic system but rarely do builders have issues with the percolation test.
Having this type of plumbing system in your cabin or home will make a huge difference compared to the alternatives. Very little maintenance is involved other than cleaning the tank which only takes place every 5-10 years depending on the amount of use.
We believe these are the most realistic systems for care free living but it depends on what type of outdoor living you’re going for. Here are additional links where you can find more detailed information about septic systems to help you make the best decision for your home.
Mountains West Ranches
