Cesspools are banned? Cost of a septic system?

[Leliu5th]

Oh wow, I am only building a 0ne bedroom and have not gotten any estimates for septic system yet, any help or recommendations greatly appreciated. I think I might have a D-9 operator only to clear a curved drive and small pad, leaving as much natural as possible for privacy. I only have Ohias on my parcel so I think I can squeeze through all of them from what I see on the map.

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Originally posted by YurtGirl

Holy SMOKES, there is major misinformation on this thread... I don't know of anyone who is getting away with charging $20k for a septic installation in Puna, not unless we're talking about some major commercial or mansion house needing an overly large septic system. And Graywater systems/Composting toilets do not require a full septic.

Accurate info?
A septic system for a typical 4 bedroom or less house in Puna runs $7,000 - $9,000 to install and inspect, $600 - $800 to engineer, including the health department fee.

A composting toilet isn't really beneficial in many ways yet because there is still the requirement for a somewhat significant system to treat the gray water (as opposed to 'black water' which is essentially toilet water and being handled by the compost toilet). An engineer needs to know what is being done and then they can submit a gray water system to handle the other water, which is essentially a hole with various aggregates and an infiltrator or two.

This is why people should really look at getting help, especially if they're going DIY. Spend more making mistakes than building your dreams... And trusting 'experts', unless licensed and doing business, are often the reason for most of those mistakes.

Melissa Fletcher
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"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973

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