Cesspools are banned? Cost of a septic system?

[kalakoa]

Poor people shouldn't be building/owning a house

Correct. The should live/defecate in the sidewalks/gutters/parks.

[BigKEO]

"They should live/defecate in the sidewalks/gutters/parks."

Welcome to San Francisco.

[Hualani]

quote:

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Originally posted by 7Shadows

Aloha everyone! Our Hawaii moving plans are back on the table. Was reading through some posts and found Hawaii has banned the issue of new Cesspool permits. So I guess we will have to put in a septic tank and drain field now.

What is this costing folks out there to install a system? I will still be needing to get my lot ripped and pushed around so I'm hoping I can get the operator to dig a septic tank and drain field hole while hes here.

Can anyone recommend some good installers and possibly what you paid to get it installed.

Much thanks to anyone that can help

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Before you "rip" the lot, please read "building in the rain forest". youll find it in the upper puna or volcano community association its around. Clearing is a delicate issue on the island. Health dept gives info on wastewater.. permits and such.

[randomq]

quote:

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Originally posted by leilanidude
Poor people shouldn't be building/owning a house they cannot afford to maintain in the first place.

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"Wealth" is not depending on a paycheck or the good graces of a boss or landlord to have a roof over your head.

If we force everyone into rentals, and low paying but time consuming jobs, with the hopes of one day elevating them to the status of a mortgage slave to pay for an overpriced home, we are making everyone poor, not wealthy. Well, everyone except the landlords and banks.

Let's make it legal for people to take care of their waste responsibly. Hell, make it cost $120/yr for a license to compost it, and use that money to hire a health inspector to ensure the composting is being done properly. Look we were fair to people, saved the environment, and created a job!

[BigEyePuna]

So I'm a bit confused by this post. Is it legal to have a composting toilet, or not?

[kalakoa]

Is it legal to have a composting toilet, or not?

If you need "legal certainty", don't rely on the opinions of pseudonymous forum posters.

DoH "may" approve an NSF-listed composting toilet as a replacement for a "regular" toilet in permitted construction. If they feel like it and/or it's not too much trouble. However, you will still need a septic system for the rest of your drain plumbing, and that septic system needs to be inspected/approved, etc.

That said, if you're "asking permission", maybe Puna isn't for you?

[ElysianWort]

quote:

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Originally posted by kalakoa

illegal for poor people to go to the bathroom

It's totally legal to take a dump in a bucket and go pour it out somewhere in the yard.

Dig a hole, suddenly it's a problem.

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So what if the hole is already there and not dug?
Uh, like maybe there's a lava tube and somebody constructs an outhouse above it?

[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
___________________________
"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973

[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.

quote:

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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
___________________________
"Make yurts, not war" Bill Coperthwaite, 1973

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[randomq]

I know a guy that went to the county to permit a composting toilet + grey water system, they said he still needed a septic system for the "black water" from his kitchen sink. All other sinks/laundry were considered grey, but not the kitchen. Something to do with meat preparation, which was funny because he is a vegan.