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Looking to do a staged build out on my property - start with a garage/workshop and then build the main house afterward. I've been searching around on the Internet trying to divine whether a septic tank can be shared between structures (garage and house later) and what the required clearances are - how far can a structure be from the septic tank in Hawaii - etc, etc.
I was hoping someone here on Punaweb may have first hand experience along these lines. Any advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
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septic systems are based on the number of (bed)rooms or uses for the structure. so make sure you plan accordingly. if you have a bathroom in the garage, that garage is considered 1 (bed)room. then if you have 2 more bedrooms in the house, you need a 3 bedroom system.
yes, i shared mine. i have a 4 bedrooms system. 3 bedroom house, and a garage with a laundry and bathroom.
minimum separation is 5' from edge of system to wall lines, but i would recommend 10' (just in case you need to get in there with a machine to dig it up in 20 years)
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Excellent information Hoku, thank you very much for that. When you did your system, did you happen to find out what the maximum distance a structure can be from the septic tank?
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There is no "maximum". My dad has a system about 80'from his house, but his property is sloped a lot.
Remember, s**t flows downhill. Your slope will decide how far you can go.
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Max number of bedrooms on a single system is five. Fact is a system for five bedrooms doesn't particularly cost more.... my suggestion is to always put in a five bedroom system.
Assume the best and ask questions.
Punaweb moderator
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Very good advice regarding distance Hoku. I thought perhaps there were maximums mandated by the County. 100% agree with the advice of Mr. Tucker.
Edited: to remove tangent about County inspection/permitting
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Do you need a septic system? If you qualify a cesspool seems to have no limit.
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@terracore - I was under the impression that a septic system is better for the environment than a cesspool.
http://www.epa.gov/region9/water/groundw...pools.html
The link above doesn't specifically call-out a septic system as a preferred alternative - I always assumed it was.
I'm just trying to do the best for the Aina.
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That's a sensitive subject that was covered here:
http://www.punaweb.org/Forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=20011
Sometimes less is more. And bacteria do different things in soil. And in septic systems. And in porous rock. You'll have to read the above link and decide for yourself.
