Cohousing-L Mailing List: Septic systems...

[David Bygott (davidbygott]

At Milagro our 28 households have been running on a  partly self contained 
system for 14 years. We have septic tanks, which need to be pumped out about 
every 2 years, and then all greywater goes to our managed wetlands. Two 
plastic-lined basins cover less than 1/4 acre and contain rushes & sedges 
growing in gravel. This provides a matrix for bacteria which purify the water. 
The end product is then pumped back to irrigate our desert gardens but is not 
used for growing foods that are in contact with the soil. The system needs 
occasional maintenance - replacing pumps, valves etc - and we could do a better 
job of monitoring it, but it has never seriously failed us. Sorry I can't give 
costs or more details as I am traveling.

David Bygott
Milagro Cohousing, Tucson