We had these when I was a kid (about 50 years ago) on our farm, 3 things I’d add, place top of barrels below frost line, add gravel below barrels and up to top of side drain holes, and lastly we’d find a dead critter, squirrels, cats whatever that had been infested with maggots and throw in first barrel they’ll eat the solids and you’ll never have to clean,pump or add more barrels! Old school !!
Best diy septic video on RUclips. Very simple and straight to the point without all the technical crap and fancy words, tools and equipment. Great job sir
this is exactly what I was hoping to come across , a good Ol Boy figuring out how to get somthing done with limited resources. Thank you for your time with this. Code is for yuppies and flatlanders
Thank you. Viewing from Malawi. 99%+ of areas don't have codes. This is absolute budget friendly and easy to execute. Thank you. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Wife and I bought a little trailer house in 1980. Couldn’t afford a septic system. Built what you have here with only two barrels. Lasted 10 years with us and our three boys. Attached about 120’ of drain pipe for a drain field. Never had to have it pumped out. Kept Ridex or buttermilk in it. I think that’s what kept everything broke down. Thanks for a great video.
@@ka24detpower I am using three inch. You don't really need four inch unless you're running some huge unit or something where there is going to be quite a lot of sewage.
I appreciate the time you put into showing us all in detail how to create a good diy septic system. Never mind the narcissistic A holes with negative comments. They must vent because they are full of waste just like this 3 barrel setup. You sir are wise an kind. Many will see the value of your knowledge and use it. Take care and thank you. I just got a remote cabin up no water or elec out here so no code either. 🙏
Hello from Türkiye! I really appreciate your videos, we have just bought a little piece of land in a tiny town and placed a tiny house on it. They told us there is a sewage system but local elections are soon and they won't do anything until new mayor elected. We decided we cannot hold our poops until then, and should make our own sanitary system. There are a lot of diy videos of this topic but yours is the best with all the explanation and different types of systems. ❤ Much love from Turkiye!
I did this with 2 barrels, and 20 feet of perforated black drain pipe. It worked perfectly. No smell, no mess. Its suggested to use 2 for one person, and add one for each additional person. I think its as efficient and hygenic as the approved ones. Btw, someone left an older used one here, and it let it evaporate, and when it was over, it had only a small amount of "dirt" , and you'd never guess what it was.
Out here in west Tennessee myself, and I'm with you, brother. "The law to live trumps all laws and codes". When I build my 20 unit apartment complex in Ukraine, I'm using this design, however, I might modify for a leach field.
I figured if my next door neighbors are allowed to have a thirty foot high pile of cow shit behind my back fence I'm not going to bother checking for "codes" when i save myself thousands of dollars this spring building this. Thanks for the video
Awesome system. I suggest a filter fabric root barrier wrap around the barrels with holes to prevent roots growing into them. Also every 6 months, chop up a tomato and send it into the first tank. The enzymes in tomatoes help accelerate the bacterial break down process of the solids and is cheaper than expensive store bought septic tank treatments. Nicely done brother !!
City plumber here, never delt w.septic systems before but I love this system. They make long sweeps w.an outlet on its side where you could have that peekaboo at the last barrel and continue on with some perforated piping for an additional leech field just to be safe. Might last 25+ years w.basic maintenance.
Brother I love all of your work and your videos showing more cheap and efficient ways on dyi septic systems. I am buying 10 acres off grid and will definitely be utilizing some of your methods. Your vids definitely help people. The time is rapidly approaching where people will have a choice to go off grid or be a slave. Thanks for all of the help
I made a similar system with a 300 gallon plastic tote and two plastic barrels with 2 10ft drain pipes and a load of gravel. It's been working great for over 5 years now. There are 2 "tiny homes" (an RV and a converted shed) attached to it.
Great simple system...Too many channels don't explain things simply and make it sound complicated...As septic systems are basically a simple process...One thing you could do is run a 4" line into first barrel so you can have a access line to pump the solids ...You also could wrap the two drain barrels with non woven fabric before backfilling and place some gravel around the base of the last two barrels...and lay fabric over the gravel then backfill
A better way to do this is to use blue barrels with removable lids and bands. This guy used an excavator whereas I used a hand shovel. I used 4 barrels and 2 twenty foot leech lines. Trenches and pit, was done by hand and with removable lids, connections were a snap! All told the digging, fitment, and backfill took about 2 months. Sure beats pooping in 13 gallon trash bags!
I live in Peru and pay $370 for a plastic septic tank that works very well. They call it a biodigestor. I can buy those plastic barrels for $30 a piece so this would save me money for an economy job
I did the same thing on a cabin. I built for my son. Used 4 tanks. 2 were for solids. One feeds into the other. Then that 2nd solid tank feeds into 2 drain field tanks drilled with holes and filled with crushed stone.
Watching in from Fiji...We do these kinds of Septic Tank Procedure. It saves us alotta money as we have plastic barrels scattered around and is put to good use Vinaka 👌🏽
Although I would prefer an aerobic system I love this idea as it requires less maintenance (no additional energy required) 2 things to consider Tow barrels for the first section ( greatly increased capacity) Instead of a grinder which is expensive and requires power You might consider using Bidets which eliminate the need for TP. Thanks so much for this video. OH BTW Important not mentioned please do a perc test to determine if the soil has the capacity to leach effluent. Too much clay in the soil will greatly affect the system and it can fill up fast.
Very helpful video. I am about to buy a travel trailer to put on my farm out in rural Texas. I have been looking for a septic solution and your system fits the bill. Thank you for taking the time to put this video together-- and thanks for the clarification on the 3-1/4" hole--that was the only thing that didnt make any sense and I didnt see your correction until i decided to comment. Thanks again!
I did a similar thing for my camper, I lived in it for a bit when covid hit. But I had 4 barrels in a square pattern, all dumping across to each other. But all of my barrels had holes, and I had probably 200’ of pipe coming out into a makeshift leech field, added this part. I dig a hole that left 24” around the entire collage and I buried the entire thing with gravel not dirt except the top 4-6”
A lot of people had these systems where I grew up. They were all two barrel systems made from the steel drums and 50’ of field line. They didn’t perforate the second barrel. The main problems people had with them was rusting out and root masses inside around where the pipe went in or out. This system shouldn’t have any problems.
put crushed stone, encapsulated in filter fabric, around the leaching barrels so the stone doesn't get choked up with dirt and reduce its ability to disperse / infiltrate the liquids.
TY. I’m adding a small home & will be using this. I originally thinking 2 barrels but 3 is better. NE TN here too. I will add a cloth around the 2nd & 3rd barrels. I alrdy had to fix my main septic to the house cause of roots clogging the main outlet line. Easy fix with a backhoe
Im glad i found this video. Im fixing to build about the same thing. Im thinking maybe those big ibc plastic tanks but seeing the barrel deal might be better
I have used these before but I cut them lengthwise, remove the top and lay them end to end with the ends overlapping. It's very strong and will not compress underground. The end effect is the plastic half drums end up forming a long arch. The structure is not unlike the leaching chambers that a lot of people use in place of the older leach line systems that tend to clog with roots on occasion. Of course this would never go in a big city such as say, San Francisco. Cities like San Francisco have highly technical and ridged building codes. No way can you just throw up a makeshift shelter there and just shit in the streets. There would be human fecies all over the town and eventually medieval disease would start to spread. That's why big cities have these codes to protect public health.
I rather think it's ashamed urban areas don't allow certain citizens to enjoy primitive camping on city sidewalks. They could perform valuable municipal services like picking up trash, making commuters' windshield sparkle, keeping on the lookout for and notifying authorities about "shady" characters and most importantly beautifying our underpasses with folk art.
Oh wait. The homeless people in San Francisco are already shitting in the streets. Have you not heard. They have a shit avoiding map you can purchase to try not to step in it.
If you place large rocks around the outside of the blue cans it gives a leach system then a plastic film can be placed over the hole supported by the rocks. Cover this film with a few inches of dirt and you have a leach system that won't collapse inward and with the dirt over it no oder..
Great details for the beginners going off-grid. I was raised in the Florida Everglades and Dad used a similar system with steel barrels. Worked for 5 years till we moved away. Head's up on a few things I've learned about lately; Put some live yeast into the first barrel to activate the solid's breakdown faster and NEVER use harsh chemicals to clean the toilet with which will stop this process. Use natural soap, biodegradable, nontoxic cleaners. SIMPLE GREEN is my choice. Also to prevent roots from growing into the system you can use a copper mesh wire around the barrels, a little costly but saves on digging again or building another system. I liked the other comments about using tomatoes and maggot infested critters. Haven't tried it yet but I will keep those in mind. I Also use a small odor controlled trash can next to my toilet for after doing my paperwork, since I prefer a thicker paper that would plug up most RV systems, then I burn that every night before bed along with the other paper/wood/cardboard trash. I compost my biodegradables and any meat scraps go to the cat, dog and what ever stray creatures come along after they are done.
Thanks I have been thinking about using barrels for a septic system. I wasn't sure about the best way to make it work . I was going to use two barrels and 5 or 10 gallon bucket for a junction box drain field ? 3 and like you're and third barrel 3 drain fields . I have wet land here in GA It's 1 just for temporary . Camper that is being remolding into a tiny house to live in while I'm remodeling on the main two homes and building tiny houses on the land . The main house has a septic system in the back yard but bought the place camper was in front yard 50 ft + away house , camper was in bad shape to move it but still can live in part of it while remolding , I needed a septic system. But the water table is a few feet, digging 1 or 2 ft down the water starts filling in the hole . The well pump is 20 ft and 8 or 10 hit water . Question is the barrel septic system works for a temporary 3 to 6 month on wet land? And what the best way I build system to work where I wouldn't have to pump solids out of the septic system ?
Nice idea but I would be concerned about the soil compressong the barrels;but maybe starting out with full (H2O) ma prevent crushing. My only advise is, if you can route grey water (wash water, soaps, detergents, clorox, any bacteria killing substance) away from the first digester and onto a fourth tank (grey water only barrel) that would be good. If you dont kill off the bacteria digesting the waste you wont have solids building up. Your only expense would be the extra PVC you'd have to by but it beats the cost of a honey dipper truv coming to pump ot the system
Very nice job. I think it even may be a little over kill 😊. My question to you is how do you get a 3” pipe though a 1” and a 1/4”hole 🤔. I’m a retired master plumber that’s a good trick 😊. After watching the hole video I see you are using the second barrels for a leach line 😊. I like the idea, I think I would like to have more than one barrel for the solids :-). I’ve had a lot of septics pumped over the years and a small septic will fill up pretty quickly 😢.
If your really a retired Master Plumber then you understand Scooter that it’s no problem to squeeze a 3” fitting into an 1 1/4” hole with the right amount of plumbers lube brother 😂
It must be Winter time because I don't see any flies .😁 There is NO smell worse than pumping out a porta potty or septic tank , when the two are churned together .
Put a half gallon of buttermilk in it once a month, it will run from now on, the bacteria in the buttermilk will feast on the solids! Don’t forget to put a vent pipe somewhere In line.
I built a similar system and the run off is cleaner (yes, tested) than my original (to NC code) system. I filter through the three "chambers", through a screen "catch" than out to my leach field
*I've been pondering the idea of embarking on a rain harvesting project lately. The prospect of harnessing nature's gift, rainwater, for my yard has me truly excited. I can't help but wonder: do you think this concept would align perfectly with my specific needs and situation? 🌧💧🍃*
Hello, thank you for information. Very helpful. What is the capacity of this system? Can it handle a toilet, two sinks and a shower for an off-grid cabin with intermittent use? Thanks!
I see a lot of people saying "screw the codes". The codes for a septic system include a perc test. A perc test measures how quickly the soil will allow liquids to pass through it. If it passes too quickly it can get into the aquifer before it's been properly filtered by nature, contaminating the well water for them and anyone drawing water from the same aquifer. Some of those same people then go on to state "people don't understand how important sanitation is". Call me a troll if you want, but personally I'd prefer to not have my drinking water contaminated by someones urine and feces because they feel "the law to live trumps all laws and all codes.". Ecoli? Cryptosporidium? Cholera, anyone? Seems that clean water is an actual necessity to life, and someone's perceived "right" to release their excrement into it is not. No problem though. You saved yourself a few bucks by skipping all the codes and fail safes to ensure people continue to have the God given right to clean water, a necessity for life. Kudo's on your financial prowess. But of course they SHOULD follow all code "when they can" .
This is what my grandpa did during the 1960’s. And during the late 1980’s I inherited the house, and it stood till 1999. The septic tank was never pumped!
That’s not true🤣Lived in both CA and NYC for years….never saw this, and CA has a lower crime rate and is hugely more prosperous than almost all red states….Google it if don’t believe it. Where I am in CA, you would have huge difficulty finding a single piece of litter beside the road, and they change the roadside flowers when one petal falls.
Aloha Appalachian American: Stan here in Maui I am getting ready to install your 3 barrels septic system this Saturday..I like your design very much thanks for putting it on Utube..I have two questions: I am planning to fill the area around the barrels to about 20" with 1 1/4" gravel (I drilled 1" holes in barrels 2 and 3) and then I am thinking off putting window screening on top of the gravel and then top off the gravel level to the surface with a mixture of excavated soil and gravel. that would be about 20" on top of the gravel/screening..My thought is that the screening would slow or stop dirt from above from entering the weeping field..What do you think about this idea? Stan
put 3/4" crushed stone from the bottom to the top of the pipes, encapsulated in filter fabric, around the leaching barrels so the leaching holes and the stone doesn't get choked up with dirt and reduce its ability to disperse / infiltrate the liquids.
What about a clean out in the first barrel? Do you still put one in line prior to 1st barrel like normal? Or do you just re dig it if it fill up and then do clean out? I want to do this for a camper setup.
Thank you trying to help daughter get into tiny house. Going to just run toilet into tank all other gray water into woods. Should last a lifetime. Again thank you.
"The Law to Live trumps all laws and all codes." I love that statement. Made me want to subscribe. Thanks.
Thank you!
We had these when I was a kid (about 50 years ago) on our farm, 3 things I’d add, place top of barrels below frost line, add gravel below barrels and up to top of side drain holes, and lastly we’d find a dead critter, squirrels, cats whatever that had been infested with maggots and throw in first barrel they’ll eat the solids and you’ll never have to clean,pump or add more barrels! Old school !!
So that's why Tom Sawyer and Huck Fin wanted a dead cat?
If you can’t get below frost use rigid foam, it blocks the frost, over hang in all directions 6-12”
how do the maggots survive with all the water? how do the flies survive to reproduce?
@@mrniusi11 Teenage Mutant Ninja Maggots 🎶pupating in a hard shell,🎶 Maggot Power! 🎶
@@mrniusi11 they live. I have a pork roast floating in my tank. I put it in over a month ago. Covered in maggots.
Best diy septic video on RUclips. Very simple and straight to the point without all the technical crap and fancy words, tools and equipment. Great job sir
this is exactly what I was hoping to come across , a good Ol Boy figuring out how to get somthing done with limited resources. Thank you for your time with this. Code is for yuppies and flatlanders
Thank you. Viewing from Malawi. 99%+ of areas don't have codes.
This is absolute budget friendly and easy to execute.
Thank you. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Thank you
This video was inspirational for my poor folks in small town, Gurdaan/Warmaxun, south of Mogadishu (45kms), Somalia. Thanks a million.
Glad I could help
I hit subscribe when you said the law to live trumps all laws and codes. This is the first video I have seen.
Wife and I bought a little trailer house in 1980. Couldn’t afford a septic system. Built what you have here with only two barrels. Lasted 10 years with us and our three boys. Attached about 120’ of drain pipe for a drain field. Never had to have it pumped out. Kept Ridex or buttermilk in it. I think that’s what kept everything broke down. Thanks for a great video.
Was that running just your toilet or your whole house?
What is the diameter of the pipes needed? 3"? Or 4"?
@@ka24detpower I am using three inch. You don't really need four inch unless you're running some huge unit or something where there is going to be quite a lot of sewage.
@@j.b.5691 thanks a lot man, now I'm ready :)
@@ka24detpowerhe used 3 1/4 inch hole saw
I appreciate the time you put into showing us all in detail how to create a good diy septic system. Never mind the narcissistic A holes with negative comments. They must vent because they are full of waste just like this 3 barrel setup. You sir are wise an kind. Many will see the value of your knowledge and use it. Take care and thank you. I just got a remote cabin up no water or elec out here so no code either. 🙏
Hello from Türkiye! I really appreciate your videos, we have just bought a little piece of land in a tiny town and placed a tiny house on it. They told us there is a sewage system but local elections are soon and they won't do anything until new mayor elected. We decided we cannot hold our poops until then, and should make our own sanitary system. There are a lot of diy videos of this topic but yours is the best with all the explanation and different types of systems. ❤ Much love from Turkiye!
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I did this with 2 barrels, and 20 feet of perforated black drain pipe.
It worked perfectly.
No smell, no mess.
Its suggested to use 2 for one person, and add one for each additional person.
I think its as efficient and hygenic as the approved ones.
Btw, someone left an older used one here, and it let it evaporate, and when it was over, it had only a small amount of "dirt" , and you'd never guess what it was.
Out here in west Tennessee myself, and I'm with you, brother. "The law to live trumps all laws and codes". When I build my 20 unit apartment complex in Ukraine, I'm using this design, however, I might modify for a leach field.
I'm in west Tennessee I'm building this too
like my grandpa always said what they don't know won't hurt them
I figured if my next door neighbors are allowed to have a thirty foot high pile of cow shit behind my back fence I'm not going to bother checking for "codes" when i save myself thousands of dollars this spring building this. Thanks for the video
Awesome!
Awesome system. I suggest a filter fabric root barrier wrap around the barrels with holes to prevent roots growing into them. Also every 6 months, chop up a tomato and send it into the first tank. The enzymes in tomatoes help accelerate the bacterial break down process of the solids and is cheaper than expensive store bought septic tank treatments. Nicely done brother !!
I was wondering about roots. Just to help prevent & last longer.
City plumber here, never delt w.septic systems before but I love this system. They make long sweeps w.an outlet on its side where you could have that peekaboo at the last barrel and continue on with some perforated piping for an additional leech field just to be safe. Might last 25+ years w.basic maintenance.
Brother I love all of your work and your videos showing more cheap and efficient ways on dyi septic systems. I am buying 10 acres off grid and will definitely be utilizing some of your methods. Your vids definitely help people. The time is rapidly approaching where people will have a choice to go off grid or be a slave. Thanks for all of the help
I made a similar system with a 300 gallon plastic tote and two plastic barrels with 2 10ft drain pipes and a load of gravel. It's been working great for over 5 years now. There are 2 "tiny homes" (an RV and a converted shed) attached to it.
300 gallon tote for solids and 2 55 gallon drums for your liquid drainage?
Great simple system...Too many channels don't explain things simply and make it sound complicated...As septic systems are basically a simple process...One thing you could do is run a 4" line into first barrel so you can have a access line to pump the solids ...You also could wrap the two drain barrels with non woven fabric before backfilling and place some gravel around the base of the last two barrels...and lay fabric over the gravel then backfill
A better way to do this is to use blue barrels with removable lids and bands. This guy used an excavator whereas I used a hand shovel. I used 4 barrels and 2 twenty foot leech lines. Trenches and pit, was done by hand and with removable lids, connections were a snap! All told the digging, fitment, and backfill took about 2 months. Sure beats pooping in 13 gallon trash bags!
I love the logical attention this man pays and the way he speaks when appointing logic.
Haaa? 🤣
I live in Peru and pay $370 for a plastic septic tank that works very well. They call it a biodigestor. I can buy those plastic barrels for $30 a piece so this would save me money for an economy job
Screw the codes. Screw them. All they are there for is so the government or some rich ceo can make a little extra scratch.
I did the same thing on a cabin. I built for my son. Used 4 tanks. 2 were for solids. One feeds into the other. Then that 2nd solid tank feeds into 2 drain field tanks drilled with holes and filled with crushed stone.
Watching in from Fiji...We do these kinds of Septic Tank Procedure. It saves us alotta money as we have plastic barrels scattered around and is put to good use
Vinaka 👌🏽
My friend has a similar system on his land but on a bigger scale and he is very happy with it 😊 thanks for sharing
"a twenty unit apartment complex" 😂 you killed me with that one
One of the better hillbilly septic systems that I've seen.
My deceased uncle did similar in Oklahoma decades ago, still going strong for a single person/couple living in an old house. Never been pumped either.
Hilarious and really enjoyed. Very educative. With love from Zambia
Backfill them last two barrels with some stone and it'll drain much better that's a nice setup you got there
Nice job loved the way you laid it out.
Excellent video my friend! Thanks for sharing 🙏🏻 I too am in TN and this method will be perfect for my situation! 🤌🏼
Great, video. I'm no Ukrainian but I know ingenuity when I see it.
Although I would prefer an aerobic system I love this idea as it requires less maintenance (no additional energy required) 2 things to consider Tow barrels for the first section ( greatly increased capacity) Instead of a grinder which is expensive and requires power You might consider using Bidets which eliminate the need for TP. Thanks so much for this video. OH BTW Important not mentioned please do a perc test to determine if the soil has the capacity to leach effluent. Too much clay in the soil will greatly affect the system and it can fill up fast.
Well done.
Thanks.
People don't understand how important sanitation is.
"people don't understand how important sanitation is"? What people exactly?
Thank you so much! Really appreciate your awesome knowledge.
Very helpful video. I am about to buy a travel trailer to put on my farm out in rural Texas. I have been looking for a septic solution and your system fits the bill. Thank you for taking the time to put this video together-- and thanks for the clarification on the 3-1/4" hole--that was the only thing that didnt make any sense and I didnt see your correction until i decided to comment. Thanks again!
Thank you
I love this video...from Mizoram, India
Thank you for this informative Video! My Parents’ Cabin might just have to make use of your idea. ✌🏻😎
I did a similar thing for my camper, I lived in it for a bit when covid hit. But I had 4 barrels in a square pattern, all dumping across to each other. But all of my barrels had holes, and I had probably 200’ of pipe coming out into a makeshift leech field, added this part. I dig a hole that left 24” around the entire collage and I buried the entire thing with gravel not dirt except the top 4-6”
I didn't know you could do that. You're genius
Thank you so much may need your advice more in the near future
Great video my friend many thanks from n Ireland 🤝
A lot of people had these systems where I grew up. They were all two barrel systems made from the steel drums and 50’ of field line. They didn’t perforate the second barrel. The main problems people had with them was rusting out and root masses inside around where the pipe went in or out. This system shouldn’t have any problems.
put crushed stone, encapsulated in filter fabric, around the leaching barrels so the stone doesn't get choked up with dirt and reduce its ability to disperse / infiltrate the liquids.
hey i like this guys attitude! hell yeah great video! thanks!
I did this for my grey water from the washer I put in the garage, cheaper then hooking it to the main septic, and easier.
Great video my friend thanks for the information
good man--you helped many people in need r
TY. I’m adding a small home & will be using this. I originally thinking 2 barrels but 3 is better. NE TN here too. I will add a cloth around the 2nd & 3rd barrels. I alrdy had to fix my main septic to the house cause of roots clogging the main outlet line. Easy fix with a backhoe
Im glad i found this video. Im fixing to build about the same thing. Im thinking maybe those big ibc plastic tanks but seeing the barrel deal might be better
I have used these before but I cut them lengthwise, remove the top and lay them end to end with the ends overlapping. It's very strong and will not compress underground. The end effect is the plastic half drums end up forming a long arch. The structure is not unlike the leaching chambers that a lot of people use in place of the older leach line systems that tend to clog with roots on occasion. Of course this would never go in a big city such as say, San Francisco. Cities like San Francisco have highly technical and ridged building codes. No way can you just throw up a makeshift shelter there and just shit in the streets. There would be human fecies all over the town and eventually medieval disease would start to spread. That's why big cities have these codes to protect public health.
I rather think it's ashamed urban areas don't allow certain citizens to enjoy primitive camping on city sidewalks.
They could perform valuable municipal services like picking up trash, making commuters' windshield sparkle, keeping on the lookout for and notifying authorities about "shady" characters and most importantly beautifying our underpasses with folk art.
@@maxi-me It is a shame indeed. Maybe in the future though we can have a society that allows that and we can all reap the benefits.
Oh wait. The homeless people in San Francisco are already shitting in the streets. Have you not heard. They have a shit avoiding map you can purchase to try not to step in it.
I see what you did there..... Well played sir. 😂
Cleverly done!
Good DIY off grid septic sir!
If you place large rocks around the outside of the blue cans it gives a leach system then a plastic film can be placed over the hole supported by the rocks. Cover this film with a few inches of dirt and you have a leach system that won't collapse inward and with the dirt over it no oder..
In some places, like a few Arizona counties, these systems ARE within code. I've seen these types of system be permitted and passed by inspectors.
i grew up where most people had systems like this and sadly some ran it off in the ditch or creek instead.. this is a much better option and does work
Thank you that is a great ideal!
The law to live ..... Well said - great vid 👍 - new sub - GOD bless from KY
Great details for the beginners going off-grid.
I was raised in the Florida Everglades and Dad used a similar system with steel barrels. Worked for 5 years till we moved away.
Head's up on a few things I've learned about lately;
Put some live yeast into the first barrel to activate the solid's breakdown faster and NEVER use harsh chemicals to clean the toilet with which will stop this process. Use natural soap, biodegradable, nontoxic cleaners.
SIMPLE GREEN is my choice.
Also to prevent roots from growing into the system you can use a copper mesh wire around the barrels, a little costly but saves on digging again or building another system.
I liked the other comments about using tomatoes and maggot infested critters. Haven't tried it yet but I will keep those in mind.
I Also use a small odor controlled trash can next to my toilet for after doing my paperwork, since I prefer a thicker paper that would plug up most RV systems, then I burn that every night before bed along with the other paper/wood/cardboard trash. I compost my biodegradables and any meat scraps go to the cat, dog and what ever stray creatures come along after they are done.
Thanks
Yup...this is what i needed!!! Ty
You're welcome
Thanks for the video this is awesome buddy thanjsnfornyour time and knowledge on it
Awesome info thank you!!!
I appreciate your disclaimer. Some people need rules made by people not the actual laws of nature, which this follows
I love your videos
Thanks
We grew up with an out house. It had a shower and everything! You have to cover the leavings with dirt when you move it.
Love this, but could you show how the final product looks, like after all filled in and the attaching of the toilet, etc. Thank you
Well done sir
Loved the video. Question: how do you pump the solids fromt he first barrel?
What a great old Man!
The Right to Life outweighs any policy rule or repugnant law that would claim otherwise.
Thanks I have been thinking about using barrels for a septic system. I wasn't sure about the best way to make it work . I was going to use two barrels and 5 or 10 gallon bucket for a junction box drain field ? 3 and like you're and third barrel 3 drain fields . I have wet land here in GA It's 1 just for temporary . Camper that is being remolding into a tiny house to live in while I'm remodeling on the main two homes and building tiny houses on the land . The main house has a septic system in the back yard but bought the place camper was in front yard 50 ft + away house , camper was in bad shape to move it but still can live in part of it while remolding , I needed a septic system. But the water table is a few feet, digging 1 or 2 ft down the water starts filling in the hole . The well pump is 20 ft and 8 or 10 hit water . Question is the barrel septic system works for a temporary 3 to 6 month on wet land? And what the best way I build system to work where I wouldn't have to pump solids out of the septic system ?
Nice idea but I would be concerned about the soil compressong the barrels;but maybe starting out with full (H2O) ma prevent crushing.
My only advise is, if you can route grey water (wash water, soaps, detergents, clorox, any bacteria killing substance) away from the first digester and onto a fourth tank (grey water only barrel) that would be good. If you dont kill off the bacteria digesting the waste you wont have solids building up.
Your only expense would be the extra PVC you'd have to by but it beats the cost of a honey dipper truv coming to pump ot the system
Thank you for sharing 🎉❤
Great video thanks
Very nice job. I think it even may be a little over kill 😊. My question to you is how do you get a 3” pipe though a 1” and a 1/4”hole 🤔. I’m a retired master plumber that’s a good trick 😊. After watching the hole video I see you are using the second barrels for a leach line 😊. I like the idea, I think I would like to have more than one barrel for the solids :-). I’ve had a lot of septics pumped over the years and a small septic will fill up pretty quickly 😢.
If your really a retired Master Plumber then you understand Scooter that it’s no problem to squeeze a 3” fitting into an 1 1/4” hole with the right amount of plumbers lube brother 😂
Awesome. Thanks for the video.
It must be Winter time because I don't see any flies .😁 There is NO smell worse than pumping out a porta potty or septic tank , when the two are churned together .
Awesome video, thanks
Great vid.
Put a half gallon of buttermilk in it once a month, it will run from now on, the bacteria in the buttermilk will feast on the solids! Don’t forget to put a vent pipe somewhere In line.
I built a similar system and the run off is cleaner (yes, tested) than my original (to NC code) system.
I filter through the three "chambers", through a screen "catch" than out to my leach field
*I've been pondering the idea of embarking on a rain harvesting project lately. The prospect of harnessing nature's gift, rainwater, for my yard has me truly excited. I can't help but wonder: do you think this concept would align perfectly with my specific needs and situation? 🌧💧🍃*
Very cool! How could the user pump it without relying on a company? What would you do with the solids?
Hello, thank you for information. Very helpful. What is the capacity of this system? Can it handle a toilet, two sinks and a shower for an off-grid cabin with intermittent use? Thanks!
I see a lot of people saying "screw the codes". The codes for a septic system include a perc test. A perc test measures how quickly the soil will allow liquids to pass through it. If it passes too quickly it can get into the aquifer before it's been properly filtered by nature, contaminating the well water for them and anyone drawing water from the same aquifer.
Some of those same people then go on to state "people don't understand how important sanitation is". Call me a troll if you want, but personally I'd prefer to not have my drinking water contaminated by someones urine and feces because they feel "the law to live trumps all laws and all codes.". Ecoli? Cryptosporidium? Cholera, anyone?
Seems that clean water is an actual necessity to life, and someone's perceived "right" to release their excrement into it is not. No problem though. You saved yourself a few bucks by skipping all the codes and fail safes to ensure people continue to have the God given right to clean water, a necessity for life. Kudo's on your financial prowess. But of course they SHOULD follow all code "when they can" .
Nice work, loveit
Thank you, I appreciate you; be well and be safe.
🙌🏽💚🙌🏽 Righteous Guidance, Protection, Peace, Blessings, Favours & Success 🙌🏽💚🙌🏽
This is what my grandpa did during the 1960’s. And during the late 1980’s I inherited the house, and it stood till 1999. The septic tank was never pumped!
My daughter went to California and New York.. There it is common for people to poop in the streets..
Well a bear don't shit in it's cave,but you shit in yours, real cosmopolitan!
yes, but they are respecting the codes, aren't they?
That’s not true🤣Lived in both CA and NYC for years….never saw this, and CA has a lower crime rate and is hugely more prosperous than almost all red states….Google it if don’t believe it. Where I am in CA, you would have huge difficulty finding a single piece of litter beside the road, and they change the roadside flowers when one petal falls.
@@Itried20takennames , and your in denial
@@Itried20takennames yeah, right and you're full of what the 1st barrel holds....lmao!
Very nice !
Aloha Appalachian American: Stan here in Maui I am getting ready to install your 3 barrels septic system this Saturday..I like your design very much thanks for putting it on Utube..I have two questions: I am planning to fill the area around the barrels to about 20" with 1 1/4" gravel (I drilled 1" holes in barrels 2 and 3) and then I am thinking off putting window screening on top of the gravel and then top off the gravel level to the surface with a mixture of excavated soil and gravel. that would be about 20" on top of the gravel/screening..My thought is that the screening would slow or stop dirt from above from entering the weeping field..What do you think about this idea? Stan
YES I love your video!! Thank you. Any concerns with the dirt plugging the holes? Would putting a layer of 1-2" gravel be if benefit?
put 3/4" crushed stone from the bottom to the top of the pipes, encapsulated in filter fabric, around the leaching barrels so the leaching holes and the stone doesn't get choked up with dirt and reduce its ability to disperse / infiltrate the liquids.
Pieces of Trex fake wood would be great for capping the two barrels with the doors. Or Coroplast plastic sheeting.
What about a clean out in the first barrel? Do you still put one in line prior to 1st barrel like normal? Or do you just re dig it if it fill up and then do clean out? I want to do this for a camper setup.
That last outlet should go into a leach field.
What do you put in the bottom of the hole? Sand small stones. Liquid will be draining out of the hole from the second and third barrels.
Great content!
Thanks
Thank you trying to help daughter get into tiny house. Going to just run toilet into tank all other gray water into woods. Should last a lifetime. Again thank you.