Thoughts on septic lagoons......

[littledog]

We have looked at several properties of late that have septic lagoons. I did a little research, so have a general "book" understanding of them. One of the concerns I have is that the properties are small acreage. Both being just over two acres. Wouldn't this be too small acreage for a septic lagoon to be practical? We also would like a well, is there concern that the lagoon might leach into the well water? I would like some "real life" advice on the advantages and disadvantages from those who have them on their property. Thanks ahead of time for any input!!

[firebird]

Just wondering what a septic lagoon is? Is it an open air holding pond for sewage? That sounds very dangerous if it is.

[jed turtle]

Just wondering what a septic lagoon is? Is it an open air holding pond for sewage? That sounds very dangerous if it is.

really! anything like that would be instantly illegal here, unless i suppose it was actually a methane production lagoon which would then be isolated from the atmosphere/environment.

all non-municipal sewage systems in this state are sub-surface, designed by professionals for specific conditions on site.

[DragonLady]

I used a have a lagoon. We lived on 5 acres. We also had a well. Never had any problems other than the fact that it was an eye sore. And because of the standing water, we had many mosquitoes.

I much prefer a septic tank.

[KuernoDeChivo]

I have a septic tank but the nearest big city (small-town) uses a lagoon. They have no problem and I can rarely smell it when I drive by.

When I was in Junior High I went down to my small town's pond and took some water samples in a baby-food jar. My teacher was very excited about the water sample for the microscope!...lol

I think if you live in a "deserty" dry climate you can't beat the septic tank. I leave on the edge of a desert and it is quite dry where I live. Many folks get over 30 years between pumping!

If the water table is high you might be forced to use a lagoon. I would still take that over municipal sewage for survival aspects.

Can you imagine what the big cities and small towns will be like when the sewage backs up? Nearly every mid-size town you go into now-a-days has pumps on the corners, you know the one with the little light in a metal cage? Once the power is out and there is no fuel for generators that sewage will start backing up into basement toilets and drains. Imagine the sewage for the entire neighborhood shooting out of your toilet like Old-Faithful!

If your house is lower then the rest of the town make sure you understand your situation. One of my friends put big ball valves to isolate his house. Others I know have bought rubber-balls that they figure they can jam into the pipes and toilets to keep the neighbors sewer out of their houses.

All this talk reminds me I need to get my tank pumped soon. I have been in my house almost 10 years and don't want to go into hard times with a full tank.

[firebird]

Here in Florida I would think that would be a disease nightmare with all of the mosquitoes we have down here.

[littledog]

Thanks for your replies! It does make me think twice about having that on a property with small acreage. I hadn't considered the mosquito population, although I should have, it is terrible in the summer here in terms of mosquitos. KuernoDeChivo, we are in Kansas so not a dry climate here. The house we were looking at is about 6 miles from a small town. I was kind of surprised the county allowed a lagoon in that area.

[KuernoDeChivo]

I would still talk to locals to see how they do it. Just cause it sounds crazy it doesn't mean that it won't work. I know they sell little packets out here that they throw into yard-ponds and small fish ponds like for coi..sp?

I bought some and it was cheap. I believe it causes the mosquito larva to hatch prematurely so they never grow to adulthood.

Can you get away with a septic tank? I like mine. I just know if the water-table is high it will be a royal nightmare. My cousin had one up near a ski resort here and the water table was too high. I believe they call it the "leach field" where the tank drains the water after the bacteria breaks everything down.

Anyway with the high water table his tank would never drain well land would have to be pumped all the time.

When I was a boy in San Fernando Valley So-Cal there were houses that had septic tanks with cesspools. I thought that was pretty gross cause it was so close to the houses. When they would flush there was an immediate serge of water (and other things) right out in front of the house!

Where I live now you would never ever know everyone is on septic-tanks unless one gets back up or something. In fact it took me a couple years to even figure out where mine is since there is grass growing over the top.

It was when I got lazy about watering I noticed a small patch of grass seemed to stay fairly green all summer!...lol

[Samurai Jane]

For me, a composting toilet and grey water recovery system is the only way to go.
(pun intended)
:lol:

[momof23goats]

well, we do have a couple of bathrooms, and also an out house we could use, but at -39 that might be alittle cold, so I would use a composting style, in the winter months, saw dust no problem, there is a mill down the road, and they have huge heaps of it all over the place.

[Samurai Jane]

I saw a video when I was in architorture school about a small community in W. Va. where they couldn't have septic tanks because of the soil.
They constructed a lagoon with a variety of aquatic plants and fish and the water was unbelievably clear.

[tri-high]

With the well, you should put it upstream from the septic lagoon.
Like, the groundwater flows from high - low areas. If the septic lagoon is geographically higher than where you drill your well, then it could contaminate your well water. Unless the water table is much below the surface, then the water coming from the lagoon has time to filter out all of the baddies before reaching the water table, and therefore your usable drinking water supply.

You could apply the effluent (poo water) to crop land for fertilizing purposes, but a good spread would be best in this case, so you don't have a big pile of duke here, and no fertilizer over there.

Shoot, you could make an outhouse and throw your food scraps in to create a pseudo compost pile. The only problem here is turning the waste to ensure the biological activity is acting evenly throughout (they need oxygen to live, and turning it incorporates oxygen). "Bugs", as my professor calls them, are essential to wastewater (or waste) treatment.

If the lagoon is to stay, maybe putting in an aerator would be a good idea to keep the bugs well oxygenated. There are things on the market that swirl in circles to aerate the water. Or, get an air pump and a pvc pipe with a bunch of holes in it and stick the pipe in the water, pump air through. Bam! Aerator, and the "bugs" are happy. (bugs are not like, mosquitos, but are rather like micro-organisms that eat the sewage).

Like someone before said though, the composting toilet and grey water system will work too. Or, you could compost your outhouse. Whatev. If you are in the market for a composting toilet, I know a guy that is a representative for a company that sells them. Let me know if you'd be interested in purchasing a self-composting toilet.
They're not designed for large families and lots of usage, though...Well, maybe some are, but the ones I have the hook-up for are not, I don't believe.

Best of luck making a decision, and if you want any more wastewater info/have questions, please direct them to me, and I will get you an answer. I'm an undergrad studying for an Environmental Engineering degree with an emphasis on water and wastewater processes.

Also, a septic system with an absorption field seems ideal for 20-30 years. Then the field can get clogged w/ organic matter and no longer properly operate. The premise of the field is that there are the perforated pvc pipes underground, above trenches that collect the organic matter and allow water to drain out. The field is pretty large, based upon the diagram in my textbook, and the cost would be high to install one, I would imagine...
Let me hear of questions. Or request for more options/information.


Jah