How to DIY Your Own Gray Water Septic

[@TinyShinyHome]

📄*MAKE SURE TO READ THE GRAY WATER SEPTIC ARTICLE, TOO!* tinyshinyhome.com/gray-water-septic 💦GRAY WATER SEPTIC PLANS products.tinyshinyhome.com/gray-water-plans

[@michaelsparks6084]

As a Plumbing Contractor of 30 years I approve this system! ❤

[@TheHavasu_77]

Even though I already watched you guys build this, I love that you make these videos explaining how you did it step by step! This one, the solar panel hook up, and your pump house videos are a great way to help others trying to do the same thing! You guys are awesome, and it’s always a pleasure to see you! 😘❤️😁

[@perryhunter129]

FYI if you use a curved pipe instead of a 90 by your source then there is never a chance of buildup at the 90 elbow. This works best for black water septics but a good idea for all septics. Just something I have found out after 40 years in construction. Overall good job though, you guys are doing wonderful

[@chaosplan]

That curved pipe is called a “sweep” or “long sweep”. I’m not a plumber, but I know they are required by code in certain situations when working with waste water pipe.

[@TinyShinyHome]

Those are pretty hard to come by out here, and like you said if it was black water would definitely recommend. Haven’t seen any change in water movement with the 90 even with a full flush so I think they’re ok for this specific situation. Adding grease, food, etc would definitely change though.

[@Wendoveraz]

Dang! You two have gotten so professional with your content while keeping it fun to watch. Good job and thanks for being you!

[@acornhomestead3575]

THIS IS THE BEST GRAY WATER SEPTIC VIDEO I'VE SEEN! I've been watching video after video on the septic systems for months and this is the clearest, easiest to follow with the easiest to understand definitions of the gray vs black water systems! Thank you!

[@TinyShinyHome]

Welcome! ❤️

[@tkx7]

I'd suggesting testing it/running it before you put the dirt and cover it all up.. that way you can see how it performs/make any adjustments before it's all covered

[@erics2860]

No shit pal. They’re making a how to video.

[@H0WL1TZER]

lol thanks for the obvious advice

[@SheepSociety]

Also should of filled it with water before adding rock. Ive seen them cave in.

[@janoserdelyi9879]

as someone who enjoys digging, but lives on the east coast in a very clay area, i'm jealous of your soil texture for digging

[@TinyShinyHome]

We are lucky, most folks around here also have lots of very hard clay as well.

[@curtk8715]

Looking pretty good- might hit the exposed top of the cleanout with some spray paint. Give it a little more UV protection from the sun. I would bet the second chamber is not used- and the hole you dug with the rock in it would also act as a holding tank. Looks like your soil is pretty sandy. Other thought was plant a Tombstone’s Rose Tree .

[@piperayres5295]

Thanks!

[@TinyShinyHome]

Thank you! ❤️

[@nanapamdoggiedaycare7212]

Educational, entertaining and well done with beautiful scenery and music! Good job, TSH! 💖💖💖

[@LivingTinyReimagined]

OMG I cant thank you enough for CLEAR directions and supplies list for this!! Been searching for ages!! Thank YOU!

[@sherylheilig8411]

Very clear communication n understanding why certain things are done. Thank you

[@lucillekenney8311]

This video of how to set up a DIY gray water septic might come in handy one day when I find (or build) my cabin somewhere cool. Well done! This is all so feasible. 👍

[@StoneKathryn]

This was a great video to explain and show how to build a gray water disposal system. Thanks for this Longnecker family!

[@JamesCouch777]

We used a very similar system for our black water at our hunting camp. Worked great 👍

[@melissamoonfire4323]

Thank you for just being you!! Stay Strong Stay Safe Stay Beautiful Most Of All Staying Ourselves ❤️💪

[@melaniebeaver2845]

The family photo at 5:23 is the best!!! And, obvs, thanks for all the details about the systems you're installing, research you did, etc. It's super helpful and I tell people about your channel all the time in casual conversation, FWIW. 😎

[@jazzywarrrior1414]

I’m using this video for an engineering class and you guys are helping so much! Thank you!

[@matthewknight5641]

You guys are living my dream. Thankypu for making the videos. Im working towards this myself just trying to find safe property that i can leave a few weeks at a time and my stuff be safe is the biggest challenge so far. Thanks again for the videos

[@TinyShinyHome]

Thanks, that can definitely be a struggle for sure.

[@veeemit9719]

You guys are truly Jacks and Janes of all trades!

[@linamora9169]

Thank you Ashley and Johnathan

[@peterf180]

Great video - thank you for sharing! What did you have to do for your black water?

[@TinyShinyHome]

All black water should go through a traditional septic system permitted by your local county. We have a composting toilet in the Airstream.

[@katshotz6033]

The work y’all are doing…..wow!!!!

[@daleadkison3349]

Never mind. Just read your article. Thanks for that. Love your videos.

[@KeraDoa999]

Thank you for sharing this is practically the best method I've seen so far

[@JamesCouch777]

I bought a farm back in the 80's where they piped everything to a ravine some distance from the house. I put in a septic system.

[@ThePyramidone]

Detailed and simple explanation - great job.

[@carmenmarcinkiewicz7149]

Love you guys, and all your informative videos!!!

[@sondraflesch1463]

YAY!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THE FAMILY PHOTO !!

[@williamlewis8741]

Bonjour la famille. many thanks for the Gray Water Septic vidéo. it's simple enough the construction, but that 5 foot by 7 foot hole is a bit daunting if you only have a shovel and pick. i, too, need a tractor 🙂 that being said, it's all good in the neighborhood. cheers

[@ibTeeMac]

Wow what an awesome video. You two do such a great job explaining and making it dummy free. Also noticed you are over 100K subs. WOW what a journey and thank you for all the great videos. Cheers From Vancouver Island BC Canada.

[@greenspiraldragon]

Some places let you dump gray water other places consider it the same as black water check your local, county and state codes. It is very hard on your septic to dump a lot of detergent water into it.

[@SJC49]

That’s why they said to use bio cleaning products n

[@tipirick]

I did this with the two stepped-down blue plastic barrels and about 20 ft. of leach lines (3) on about 5 ft. of clean 3/4" gravel topped with 2 ft. of gravel, filter fabric and about 2 ft. of soil back-fill over all. Have to pump out my first barrel about every two or three years. It's worked for 7 years now for my one-hole tipi bathroom in the Mojave and and it works, at least for me living alone, but I have loads of company. Now I have to deal with my separately drained kitchen sink french drain that's clogged with roots. Loads of grease I'm sure because I love bacon. I'm not sure how to do that sink, maybe a mini version of the bathroom system. Do not forget where your clean outs are! They tend to disappear under foliage in time and it's easier than you think to loose track of them!

[@tipirick]

And you must have room for the honey truck to access once every couple three years or so.

[@corriehordyk3342]

Cool. Beats the big grey cement tank we had to put in.

[@Donerightprepper1]

I like the simple way you guys did this

[@I2345-t9e]

yeah, the kitchen sink water is unfortunately my issue with building in the EU, since not only do they count as black water here - which I can understand but is still hella annoying - but also many formerly accepted versions of black water septic tanks are no longer permitted, making it both financially and space-wise impossible to create an appropriate off grid system for it. And while avoiding black water by forgoing a flushing toilet is doable, kitchen sinks are indispensable. But I shall not despair and continue searching for a solution. I like your grey water system ^^

[@caleberwin65]

Outdoor kitchen sink for washing dishes only.

[@stevemarkuseen7792]

you need a mini treatment system to basically send semi clean water out

[@Billtwiggmeister]

I grew up in Appalachia in the 60’s and 70’s, the house we lived in. The gray water was sent to a pipe that emptied into the ditch next to the road. They had zero ordinances back then and still do in many places on waste water disposal.

[@bindiberry6280]

We always have some big soda bottles around. Just wonder if we can build some kind of grease trap and filter to turn shower room and kitchen graywater into irrigation water.

[@jcb0249]

This seems very similar to Keelings system from the travel trailer homsteading book, Nice to see it in practice.

[@letsworksimple]

Great design and methodological approach

[@gailasgreatdanesandmanes1042]

EXCELLENT! I feal like I could go right out and make one!

[@markhudson6587]

Did you guys do your own Black Water Septic? Or did you have one installed professionally? Would love to see a video like that for regular septic. Great video - thanks.

[@turboimport95]

you could do something similar for black water as well. the systems work pretty much same way..

[@solosailorsv8065]

Just read the specific County Septic codes. They tell you what is legal

[@caleberwin65]

Great job. You could have used the 3” holes to add bushings or another coupler to the inside so the stand pipes aren’t just loose up top. Still works fine I’m sure.

[@robsongil3583]

Well done. Do you need to add any bacteria into the tank, like we do with balck water tanksm

[@TinyShinyHome]

If it’s truly a gray water system, then no. There shouldn’t be any solids or food particles that need to dissolve.

[@et5222]

Final step: paint exposed pvc pipe. Great how to video !

[@LeslieSoden]

cool system, do you have to worry about winterizing the connection to the source above ground? thanks!

[@TinyShinyHome]

Nope, it should never have standing water in it.

[@TheImanuelita]

What's the length of pipe for clean outs that goes into the barrel?

[@TinyShinyHome]

However long they need to be to sit above ground after filling back around it.

[@The-Good-Life-Off-Grid]

I’ve just found your channel fabulous I’ve just bought some land and this is kind of what I’ve been looking for fantastic well done😊😊

[@88njtrigg88]

I recommend a gully trap before the drums. Great Video.

[@corylehman110]

Love the video and the step by step write up on your site. I'm new to this, so my question is, what's the purpose/reason for the vinyl vapor barrier over the gravel in main hole and on top of the leach line?

[@TinyShinyHome]

Thanks! To keep any moisture that may not drain fast enough below the surface. In winter any kind of water stays around a lot longer, and can saturate the ground, creating a lot of grossness. The first line of defense is building the system and the drainage large enough so it doesn't overwhelm the soil, but the vapor barrier is added insurance.

[@zedalis]

Great video! Very informative and clear. Thank you!

[@Patriot1776-0]

I put mine in ...but had to do it by code....1000 gallon concrete tank beside schedule 40 pipe and 320 foot of leach line ....besides all the sand and number 2 rock....had to be transit dug..to get the right fall and depths....first time I put one in....contractor wanted 6 or 7 thousand to put in....

[@TinyShinyHome]

Yeah that’s a real septic :) kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXLWlWqJmM96mdU

[@ericjohnson1008]

Wahoo, all awesome information being shared.

[@harvardteam]

Great resource, thanks!

[@TrueHearted78]

You guys definitely get a thumbs up. Wondering what was the total of cost for materials??

[@scottcoffman7086]

i like your show !! i have a question why seal a pipe that has holes in it?

[@TinyShinyHome]

To make the water drain down and keep it away from the surface.

[@LaPaloma888]

Cause you want the waste water to go out the side holes and not out the top , silly 🤓

[@sondraflesch1463]

Thank you. I so need this and shared 💕

[@spoon54]

Thank you for sharing so very helpful,what part of the country do you live in, and would this system pass a inspection? my sister lives in north east part of Arizona she is just starting her little house project.

[@JamesCouch777]

My grandparents ran their gray water out in the yard. I always hated mowing that part of the yard with a push mower.

[@TinyShinyHome]

Haha gross

[@jeffreykparker]

Excellent instructive video, for which thank you! Question: Assuming that in coming years you will get buildup of (non-toilet) sludge in the tanks, is there a DIY approach to siphoning the sludge out through the two cleanouts? What kind of pump might accomplish this task? Thanks in advance!

[@TinyShinyHome]

Since it's just true gray water there shouldn't be any sludge. If there was something inside I would guess the easiest thing to do would be to call a septic company to pump it.

[@jeffreykparker]

@@TinyShinyHome I reckon you are right. In a pinch, a simple sump pump should work, as long as there's plenty of water in the tank. Pump from the bottom into a tank on a truck for disposal elsewhere. Thanks again!

[@rickavendano4762]

Wondering... If the tanks do get clogged after years of use, what you can treat the tanks with?... or if you just need to rebuild the system again at that point?

[@TinyShinyHome]

We left cleanouts on each barrel so you can pump if needed.

[@rickavendano4762]

@@TinyShinyHome I had one of these grey water tanks installed in the side of my house to just empty out my washing machine, which does have a clean out port. My issue is that after many years of use it's constantly backing up and poring out of the cleanouts, specially if you are doing multiple loads back to back. Looks like years of lint has clogged u the holes and or rocks? Maybe installing a sort of filter would of helped. Thus my question... is there a way to treat or does it need to be redone.

[@daleadkison3349]

I'm all in on plans to move onto some property I purchased in Arizona near Holbrook. I've been watching all your videos and other videos of homesteaders in Arizona. I saw one video from an Arizona homesteader (GDP) that claimed that in Arizona the where it was no designation between a grey water and black water drain field and that an inspection was necessary. What's your thoughts?

[@TinyShinyHome]

we spoke with the county, they're way more concerned with black water, which we're not putting in this system.

[@AbidAli-bv2gl]

Excellent video step by step, thanks for your video

[@merindahthornton5080]

The first ad on this video featured the song you used for the “solar shed” build- I thought I had clicked on an older video! 🤪

[@slowbaker]

Great educational video. ‼️🦉💜👍

[@Megellin]

One thing you need to consider. I had a house that had a gray water system for watering plants, and the main difference you notice from a regular house is you should avoid flushing wipes, tp, etc down the toilet, because the lack of bathwater etc seems to make it a lot easier to clog. I had a lot of clogging issues at that house and finally made everyone toss tp and stuff in a separate waste container I disposed of daily for the rest of the time I lived there.

[@TinyShinyHome]

Yeah, that’s a totally different thing - a true gray water septic should never have a toilet anywhere in the system.

[@Megellin]

@@TinyShinyHome it didn't have a toilet on the gray side. The black side that was hooked to a legit septic system was the part that was always clogged.

[@ericgeorgetruckgrilling]

I'm on city water and sewersand I have a similar problem because I have low flush toilets and a backlog valve. I was told by the county and several plumbers to dump 5 gallons of water down each toilet every month. Kinda defeats the purpose but it works.

[@Megellin]

@@ericgeorgetruckgrilling it's kind of like those old loves diper commercials when it comes to "green, less is more, eco friendly, and saver" items you live and you learn then you get like me and and "I won't buy it unless it's like led vs incandescent light bulbs. The led lasts longer and is considerably brighter per watt of energy used. I don't believe going green should have to at the cost of paying more for something that doesn't even function as well as the standard item it is meant to replace, and refuse to buy it until it at least is more practical to use than the old standard. (P.S. I also hate that our government force feeds some of this green crap to us in things like automotive. You want me to switch cars make one that doesn't break down every 10 minutes due to your bs added regulation garbage, and planned obsolescence. Filling your pockets and the junkyard isn't saving the world....)

[@biffmalibu3733]

if it doesn't come out of a human body it shouldn't go into a septic system. I have a 4 bedroom house with a really old 600 gallon septic tank and we never flush anything other than human waste. Have it cleaned every 3 years and it has almost no solids. grease trap catches all the nasty stuff from our sink before it goes into my gray water system. My gray water goes into a 300 gallon IBC tote filled with 2b gravel with hundreds of holes drilled in it and 30 ft of leach line set in 7 tons of gravel.

[@teresamexico309]

What would happen if I place not barrels and go along with the grey water septic system?. I could also make a bigger hole since it looks like land availability is not a problem. Thanks in advance for any comment.

[@TinyShinyHome]

No barrels? That doesn't really make any sense unless you just want to create a big stinky mud pit.

[@victoriousclinton9860]

wow, such a helpful video! thanks for sharing y’all. God bless

[@robinmillerkroening3493]

This is a very good DIY video! Thank you.

[@theresafox4367]

Very good video. Learn something everyday

[@davidcox5413]

Great video! Since this isn’t for black water, I would I be correct in assuming you’re using a composting toilet?

[@TinyShinyHome]

We’re actually building a composting toilet outhouse: kzbin.info/aero/PLVcTn_zT8q6I9OGyeI2hSUsuyT9sEBKfm

[@2Angelemerald2]

Thank you so much...I think you did an awesome job of getting my unintelligent head to understand.

[@Coolbreeze61]

I want to install the same system you did but i know Cochise county considers (sink, shower and possibly washer water) to be black water (how did you get around that with the county?)

[@TinyShinyHome]

We talk about this in the video, but only kitchen sink water is considered black water. That being said you have to install a traditional septic system in Cochise County no matter what, this type can't replace that. Make sure to watch this video, too: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pXLWlWqJmM96mdU

[@Coolbreeze61]

@TinyShinyHome thanks so much, so you guys do have a septic system in addition to the system you put in?

[@TinyShinyHome]

yep

[@Coolbreeze61]

Do you recycle gray water If so do you have a video on that?

[@TinyShinyHome]

We’re doing a bit of it, but no videos on it.

[@Sunjoy1]

Clever family 😊

[@diamondwfarm2238]

Good one, thanks

[@authorcharlieboring]

Interesting video.

[@poetmaggie1]

In the mountains of New Jersey my sister in law had both gray and black because city sewerages was not avalible.

[@stevec7272]

You should plant one or more thirsty trees around your tanks. Fruit trees would be nice...

[@ronb6182]

Kumquats love washing machine water. 73

[@jphhenderson2651]

You all have made so much progress! Wow I have not seen your channel in a while! Nice progress. Question, would you be able to let your goats clear your land via movable fences?

[@TinyShinyHome]

Nope, they don't want to eat the grass..

[@ChristineKelly1000]

Will you have to build a bigger version of this when you build your house. Or will you just run a pipe from the house into it?

[@TinyShinyHome]

Single Family Residences require a permitted full septic system. This is only for gray water.

[@symcardnel1741]

Great video!!! How do you guys handle your poop?

[@TinyShinyHome]

Composting toilet.

[@Emundas455]

Great video! This should be quite easy to replicate

[@isaacappiah3645]

So is this good for a waterlogged lands pls

[@sovereigns1grace]

Very cool!! I wonder what you were doing before you installed this. For solid waste, are you using composting system??

[@TinyShinyHome]

Yes compost toilet has always been in the Airstream

[@sandrareaves]

Very helpful!! ❤🎉

[@herek26a]

Thank you for sharing.

[@randybutler4772]

Big effort but worth doing. Thank you for sharing.

[@ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt]

What made y'all decide to install septic barrels/tanks and a leach field instead of a 2-stage natural filtration system? With the Airstream outlet above ground, it seems that it would be pretty easy to build a prefiltration trough that discharged to a gravel/sand/gravel filter and using the effluent for toilet flushing, irrigation, etc. Not second guessing y'all. Just genuinely curious. I live, work and travel full-time solo in a self-converted box truck, and use an ultra-compact, 6-layer, gravity, gray water filtration system and love it. No dumping of gray water...ever. With a urine-separating, compost toilet of my own design, no black water is ever generated. Liquids are emptied as needed (every 4 or 5 days, or so), while the solids only need to be disposed of every 4 to 6 weeks, or so.

[@robinmillerkroening3493]

Very interesting. Thank you!

[@EvenaGirlCanDoIt]

So, I take it your kitchen sink water goes through the grey water septic since you have a composting toilet?

[@Hereandnow3]

Water in the hole! Great how to TSH family! 🎉 “not the permitting police”. You funny things! 💕

[@agri-ciudadph]

Thanks for the information guys, God bless!🥰❤

[@StudlyMcDude]

Thanks.

[@AG-zn6xz]

Nice job!

[@TheLvablebird]

Thank you! So good to know.

[@corriehordyk3342]

Is that enough for when you finally build your house?

[@TinyShinyHome]

No, it's a gray water septic only. You have to have a real septic for a house.

[@NomadicNights90]

This is great info! Thank you!

[@deborahratcliff8179]

I like the rocks disguising you septic.

[@rebeccamunoz4596]

Not to shabby guy's👍🤗❤