How We Recycle ALL Our House Wastewater Into The Garden

[@asdisskagen6487]

Mark, thank you for this. As someone who grew up with septic systems in the US it was very interesting to see how Australians do it. We actually just used a sump pump with a moveable hose to water things like fruit and nut trees, but we did it more to drain the tank and provide added nutrients to the trees than for the actual water itself since we live in an area of plentiful rain. You would think in this day and age of "sustainability, renewability, reusability" that waste management systems would have been improved due to technology, but sadly that is not the case. The best "sustainable" residential waste management system I've seen is where the black (poop/pee) waste was separated from gray (laundry/showers, etc) waste. The gray waste water could be applied directly to any vegetation while the black waste was hot composted to destroy dangerous microbes, rendering it also safe for use in the garden. That's the system we plan on installing in a few years.

[@samurphy]

We have what, I think, is a pretty standard septic system on my property. We have a large holding tank, and a leach field. The holding tank acts as the biological digester, and the excess nutrient rich water from that flows into the leach field which is a series of perforated pipes several feet below the soil, and it percolates into the ground, watering and replenishing what would have just been the front lawn, but in my case is my veg garden. Black and grey water flow into this, so we do try to keep on top of using things like biodegradable soaps instead of harsh detergents and bleach, which can also disrupt the microbes in the digester.

[@FiveGunsWest]

Grey water use on your garden or yard is illegal in California!

[@asdisskagen6487]

@@FiveGunsWest Of course it is, because everything is illegal in California.

[@hollysharvest]

@@FiveGunsWest Not anymore!

[@turtleman190]

@@samurphy that's definitely one of the most common set-ups in Australia although i believe its now illegal to install them atleast in nsw

[@pimpozza]

No matter what the weather, Mark always brings a ray of sunshine with his vids.. I'm ready to get into it! 🌞🤗

[@pimpozza]

Fascinating vid. Brilliant work! Mucky but marvellous 😀👍

[@thomasmccardle725]

I think the weather where Mark lives is always like paradise on earth but I agree Mark brings a ray of sunshine to my heart but I think it comes from his heart ❤

[@pimpozza]

@@thomasmccardle725 We enjoy a humid subtropical climate in Italy too, Thomas.. but after a crazy dry summer, the rain came flooding down this week in my region!! 40cm/16" in just *two hours..* 🙈

[@Campfire_Bandit]

+

[@thomasmccardle725]

@@pimpozza I hope things are better now 🙏❤️🙏❤️🙏

[@vansgardens2304]

Here in the states we call them outhouses. I’m dedicating the rest of my life to changing the name to Thunderboxes.

[@asdisskagen6487]

😂😂😂😂

[@Frombie_01]

In Australia, their polite name is also "outhouse", but usually go by "thunderbox" or "the long drop".

[@wildlifegardenssydney7492]

Outside dunny, is what I grew up calling it. At the highest part of the backyard, fertility workload done by gravity.

[@Frombie_01]

@@wildlifegardenssydney7492 I had forgotten all about the "dunny" to be honest. I'm trying to think back now as to who used that expression. I think mainly amongst the kids. My grandmother called it the "W.C." (water closet), but that was indoors.

[@Trae_allen]

Ah, gotta love Aussie culture!

[@lucanambrose7682]

Your the most inspiring gardening youtuber. I've started my own self sufficiency project because of you! Love from south Africa

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you Lucan, and all the best with your self-sufficient journey! Cheers :)

[@janewhite2331]

I lived for 20 years with a septic tanks and it was recommended and very frequently practised that small dead animals should be dropped down there in order to ensure lots of bacteria. My septic tanks got roadkill, and as I lived on a shooting estate, it was pretty much pheasants with the old rabbit from the woods. Nothing ever showed up when the tank were drained and they worked very well. In fact, one chap who came to drain the tank was very complimentary and said it was the best he’d ever seen. I was just so proud😂

[@Offred]

Exceptional. I’m manually using grey water in my garden when I can, but our place is not set up well for an easy retrofit, so we just do what we can for now. Your system is so clever.

[@taylormallory8705]

Look into composting toilets!! You only need to swap out a toilet for a bucket system. After a year of composting, it's safe to use in the garden

[@Offred]

@@taylormallory8705 Yeah, believe me, if I lived alone I would already be doing it…my hubby and kids will take some convincing…

[@Selfsufficientme]

Hats off to you for manually recycling the water from your home! All the best :)

[@karlhungus545]

@@Offred Ha, here it's my wife that needs the convincing. She likes to pretend she is a 'country' girl, yet needs all of life's conveniences to be happy (i.e. a dishwasher).

[@ciaragarrity6425]

Its like a miniature waste water treatment plant, this amazes me. You are very resourceful not only with compost and food scraps but grey water too!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you Ciara! Well, I'd love to take the credit, but the truth is someone much smarter and more resourceful than me made this excellent system so I could use it. All the best :)

[@ciaragarrity6425]

@@Selfsufficientme I appreciate your gardening videos, you inspired me to study native plants and I started growing beans and all kinds of trees. I am actually saving many different endangered species. On that note, never knew about the PawPaw tree before one of your vids, and its actually native to the Eastern United States, where I live. It is very rare. So I thank you so much, and it is nice that you read my comment.

[@matta6298]

@@ciaragarrity6425 I live in new jersey and found it interesting too that he was growing them. Rarely see people talk about them

[@mannbat]

Here in Sydney there's a wastewater recycling facility (in Rouse Hill) which processes tens of millions of litres daily. It's then supplied back to households via a secondary water supply main (purple coloured) for use in gardens, toilets, etc. The water is priced cheaper than the regular drinking supply and also isn't subject to water restrictions during times of drought. Obviously retrofitting something of this scale in established areas would be very expensive, but it's a really great solution that should be employed in every new development area!

[@Selfsufficientme]

That's great Peter! I didn't know that... If I lived in that area, I'd definitely use that system for watering the garden. Cheers :)

[@CynthiaHollenberger]

There are a few communities in the western United States that process waste water and send it back to properties in purple pipes. This water is cleaned to one step below drinkable and is used for outside water needs (gardens, car wash, etc.) To conserve water, residents cannot use the drinkable water for those outdoor needs.

[@williamburke5560]

Yup its called reclaimed water.. i am a pipe foreman and have worked on a few..the water looks clear but still has a unique smell

[@snowstrobe]

I live in the UK atm, but grew up in QLD. At first we had the outback dunny (which terrified me to use at night as a kid) then later we got a septic system like this in. The issue of waste being dumped in the sea is a bit topical here at the moment, and I was trying to explain to my partner what this was, but in truth wasn't really sure how it worked. So thanks for this, now I can show him how it works.

[@lararabb8888]

Our kitchen sink ran out to a pear tree. It was always healthy & loaded with fruit in season. One year I lived with my mom in law and her grey water ran out into a bed of elephant ear plants. They were huge that year.

[@Scottsideways]

I absolutely love your videos. I’ve learned so much from you, I had a large house in the country and a huge garden and I learned to grow my own fruits and veggies from you, I had many summers of great harvests and I thank you for all your help. Unfortunately I had to move, and now reside downtown in a condo. I’d love a video on what I can grow on my balcony!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Hey Scott! There are lots you can do and grow on your balcony. Check out this older video I made on balcony growing: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iIbTg2mkfLF5o9k it has a lot of points and tips on growing in small spaces. Also, even since then, the "small spaces growing industry" has really accelerated with a ton of new products, such as towers and wall gardens, coming onto the market. Cheers :)

[@18Bees]

Good morning friend. You had me at “waste sucker guy” 😂🤣

[@katiebrooker1437]

I've always lived on septic and each system is slightly different. I like learning about how they differ and how ppl approach it's maintenance

[@tomdalton4016]

Mark listening to you always calms me ! In this case it sent my worries Down the drain

[@wildlifegardenssydney7492]

“down the dunny” we say here

[@Selfsufficientme]

LOL... Nice one Tom ;)

[@MatthewHarrold]

We've got plans for a greywater system using the kitchen, laundry, and roof run-off. I'm in a capital city and can't avoid the horrid "Taswater" bill every 3 months, and usage is bugger-all of the cost, but ... environmental and karma reasons seem worth it. Also ... we only need to water in summer because Hobart is Hobart. $0.02

[@LexBlazer]

lol I'm really enjoying the new tougher antigovernmental vibe of your videos the past little while. My wife who watches your channel a lot (she handles the non-Cannabis gardening) & I were laughing about it.

[@angerainbow9200]

Excellent video Mark. Recycling water should be mainstream.

[@maralfniqle5092]

And that right there is the golden ingredient for Mark's lush garden!

[@carolleimbach6407]

I work at a wastewater treatment facility. You have one in your back yard. Very cool.👍

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Carol

[@justapersonwhoexists7802]

Thank you Self Sufficient Me for helping the planet so much, I currently can't do much but i try to help as much as possible. You are a true inspiration for me to help the environment!

[@synchrogrl18]

This is great Mark. Water is a precious resource and I'm grateful to those that do their best to conserve and reuse it.

[@TheJohn8765]

Very good vid, mate. It's a bit crazy we don't already do this. Water recycling is pretty easy even for small non urban properties. We also have a few new condo buildings near me that recycle all the non toilet water for landscaping and toilet flushes through the building. You wouldn't know it at all. It's a win win after you install the initial system.

[@ginac9008]

I remember going to my grandparents farm as a child, there was no septic it was the thunder box like you showed in the video. Well if there were not frogs, red back spiders and the occasional snake around as it was out the back a decent way from the house. I must say it was not my most favourite place to visit then, it got a little better when the septic went in at least you could have a normal flushing toilet. I was ever so glad to go back to home which was in town and normality. The smell of those old thunder boxes still to this day many years later I still remember.

[@ElCorderoRanch]

We call those Out Houses in the US. My great grandmother had one and I didn't like to visit because of that.

[@asdisskagen6487]

Surprisingly, technology has come a long way and the newer "composting toilets" are nearly odor free 😂

[@ElCorderoRanch]

@@asdisskagen6487 yeah a lot of Van's, RV's and tiny homes have them now.

[@Selfsufficientme]

My Grandfather got bitten on the privates by a redback spider sitting on a thunderbox at Lightening Ridge Opal fields (they used to have a claim there and a small hut). He reckons it was the most painful thing ever to happen to him, and he was in WW2! When I was a boy visiting my Grandparents at their claim site over the school holidays, I remember meticulously checking the thunderbox for any nasties before doing my business! Cheers :)

[@ryanduckering]

These are the best types of systems. In my off grid setup I have to be very conscious of power usage, so have aerators/ pumps operating to oxygenate the system and move the water around doesn’t really work for me. I am doing a similar setup with a septic tank and two reed beds all arranged as a gravity feed system. Eventually I hope to have a small garden of fruit trees/blueberries downhill which are fed by gray water from the reed beds. I’ve seen some folks with reed bed systems to effective that the water that comes out is clear and odourless (not that you’d drink it). Good stuff.

[@1007V-g7d]

One of my favorite KZbinrs! Lol and I love the dad jokes 😂😂😂

[@kele1264]

Great video! Very enlightening! Unfortunately, I live in a suburban neighborhood with city water and sewer (USA - New Jersey). We're not permitted to have wells installed, nor are we permitted to divert our gray water to for use on our property. My very first house was in a rural area with private septic. It was an awful system. Yours seem much more intelligently designed. Even if it had been a good system, I doubt I'd have been permitted to use waste water that way, because it's illegal to have effluent above ground. All I can do is watch your videos and envy your awesome property and how you make yourself self sufficient. Thank you!

[@jenberryman3925]

Hey Mark we have bought land in Roma Queensland and just started getting our vegie garden and fruit trees going all been watered with grey water . We love it 😉😎

[@mousiebrown1747]

Wow! The outflow from my septic tank is a pre-existing natural fertilizer source! I didn’t think of that before….. now I need to always be careful about my detergent use…..and, as you say, use it on selected edibles ( like fruits & berries, but not root or leaf crops ). Plus, it is usual to add poop-eating bacteria to the system monthly.

[@royjohnson465]

Yes be careful about your detergent use as you explained because hair shampoo, hand soap, dish washer soap, toxic laundry detergent like Tide, poisonous floor cleaner like Pine Sol, CLR (Calcium Lime Rust remover) for shower & toilet stains, paint remover varsol, etc. all can go into a Septic Tank then he wants to use this to water fruit trees because the roots will filter out the nasty bits before it goes into the edible fruit.!! No thank you, I will "NOT" use a Septic Tank to water anything edible that I plan to eat.!!!

[@cee2615]

Thank you so much for this tutorial. So timely. I have just made the big tree change buying a property in country NSW, after always living in the city … and was horrified to learn we have a septic system - something you don’t think about living in the suburbs! As a “welcome” present, the previous owners didn’t look after the septic system so it needed an immediate pump out and an upgrade. UGH! I love your channel and will definitely be a constant viewer and fan. Hopefully the fruit trees (to be planted) will love the refreshed septic system and produce lots of fruit. More of your videos to watch on how-to 😊

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello my lovely friend

[@kylejones371]

We're working on a veg garden. my plan is to divert the AC condensation into tanks to use for watering during the hottest months.

[@HakkaDakka]

Hi Mark, I live in Finland and I have a system just like this. It's factory made and takes up around 6 square meters, self contained with plastic tanks and enclosed pumps. I like that you brought this up, we should live sustainable and care of our surroundings!

[@christianmonk5320]

Hi, do you know the name of the company by any chance?

[@HakkaDakka]

@@christianmonk5320 Avalon Nordic

[@markmoroney105]

G'day Mark, Our house love your channel here in Tocumwal NSW. We love your informative videos and the way you are sharing your knowledge. Just to brighten your day our 4 year old daughter calls your channel the 'Let's Get Into It Show' we have to start and finish the day with a big thumbs up.

[@kerryharvey6365]

This is so great. I just bought a house with septic and traditional drainfield. I'm going to see if I can convert the drainfield to something similar to what you're doing. Wonderful! Thanks Mark, outstanding content as always. 😊👍

[@asdisskagen6487]

If you have easy access to the lid of the septic, you can use a sump pump with a flexible hose to water non-food vegetation. If you are in the US, your septic unfortunately combines all black/gray waste, rendering all of it black waste and so it cannot be used on food plants, but you can still use it for ornamentals and lawns.

[@kerryharvey6365]

@@asdisskagen6487 Thanks for that info. I am in the US. The septic is in the front yard and I planned to use it for ornamentals anyway, so that would definitely still work. Going to send this to my septic guy and see what we can figure out.

[@kaybell1501]

Just be aware of the cleaning products you put into your septic tank bleach and disinfectant kill bacteria and can upset the system.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Good on you Kerry! All the best with finding a solution to converting your septic system. Cheers :)

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Kerry

[@beatieswanepoel3004]

Hi Mark, good morning from South Africa. I am a bit disappointed about my house - all the drain pipes are underground and I cannot utilize that water. But I do have buckets in bathroom and kitchen to collect water from shower and sink. All that is a big help for my small scale container garden. Thanks for all the good gardening tips.🌹🐝🇿🇦

[@Selfsufficientme]

Hi Beatie! It takes extra effort to manually collect water from showers etc, but every drop of reused water is a saving for you, and I personally give it a big thumbs up! All the best :)

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Beatie

[@manuelfondacaro9338]

It's always a delight watching your videos, a lot of ideas for my long term ongoing household project have been taken from your channel. Wastewater has not been a subject I've considered yet, we'll see... Keep up the great content, it's really useful for a city dude recently moved to a farm household. Cheers!

[@another8125]

Also depends what sort of shampoo, washing liquid, soaps y'all use too.

[@garulusglandarius6126]

Never seen this type of waste system before, love it. Great to see you back Mark, feels like ages. Another as always excellent video 👍🇬🇧🇦🇺

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you! Yeah, I haven't been uploading as much as I would like to over the past 6 months due to several disruptions here beyond my control. I hope that by the end of this year, I'll be back to weekly uploads and at least monthly live streaming. Cheers :)

[@MDeLorien]

I don't have a garden, but your channel is one of my favorits. Always so interesting. Greetings from Portugal

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thank you Marie! All the best :)

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Marie

[@donnagarcia4541]

Hello from northern New Mexico 👋 Love everything you post! ❤️

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Donna

[@sura2047]

Wow you have a completely different (more complex) septic set up than us. Our grey water is separate to the septic, it just runs into a pit, then through a connected agi pipe underground in the back yard. The septic tank has its own same system. No ventilation motors! No chlorine tables.. just into a concrete pit the effluent run off unground via the agi pipe. Ours doesn’t get checked every few months, instead once every 3 years it gets suctioned. I agree, they’re so much more environmentally friendly than treated sewage! Thank you for sharing such an interesting video, that was great!

[@denisebarker9288]

I am thinking about reusable rain water in my area and will check to see if I can use something like you have. Thanks for the update.

[@mikef6948]

That's a terrific set up you have there Mark !! I'm definitely going to look into how I can reuse my waste water. Loved listening to those two septic truck lads too. That was funny as .... lol 👍😂

[@Selfsufficientme]

Glad you enjoyed the banter Mike! Cheers mate :)

[@ItsBrendo]

I was not expecting to hear of them finding a dog and bones in septic tanks when you asked for the worst stuff they've found! Really interesting video though. It didn't occur to me that you'd be getting all this extra watering done automatically for free, by using what would ordinarily be wasted by most houses. That's such a great system.

[@donnamullins2089]

In the states we call this type Aerobic septic system. The waste water is treated with a small amount of chlorine. Water is sprayed over a leach field at the back of the property. You must have 1 acre of land in Texas to install one. (or in our area) As needed the holding tank is flushed and drained. Annual inspection.

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Donna

[@jiggli-Jane]

YaaaaaY, you're back! 🥳 Great to see you 🤗

[@ChimpityChoo]

Fascinating and insightful. Thanks for this.

[@tezzsheens]

We have an eviro cycle but we where told not to use it on fruit trees or vegie gardens, or dogs and children to play in it. But they are really great for the grass.

[@juliewilliamsnewzealand818]

I love your thinking on ways to redirect wastewater in general. Our fruit trees are watered/fed by our septic system too. And VERY informative lol :) xxx

[@CormacHolland]

Love your videos mark, been watching for years.

[@wendyh3891]

I’m happy to say that I have something similar here in my new home in Port Elizabeth, South Africa! All my grey water except toilet goes into a tank & there’s a submersible pump that takes the water from the washing machine, dishwasher, showers & basins straight to my garden beds. I’m an indigenous gardener so only my fruit trees benefit, but aloes do need some to! Thank you for this interesting video. Have a good week

[@sandralawson5598]

When I first came across your page several years ago. I got excited because I found a gardner who wanted to be self sufficient. Thank you for all the post that I have seen thus far. Keep sharing. Stay healthy you and your family and my Father God the Creator of all be with you all.

[@arnoldmmbb]

You are a great guy mate, love your videos!!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks mate! Cheers :)

[@jamesj590]

I'm currently struggling with a failing old septic system and the biggest challenge with employing a system like this where I live is the stringent regulations. It's driving me mad, the current system is so terrible with effluent surfacing in the yard yet even replacing it with a functioning version of the same seems to be against the law now. Oh, and the costs are eye-watering.

[@Selfsufficientme]

The government ruins everything these days. Until we get a real cleansing out to rid the spunging bureaucracies, we'll continue to suffer incompetence and stupid decisions/laws that make no sense.

[@jamesj590]

@@Selfsufficientme you're spot on there. Seems entirely appropriate to be talking about sewerage and politicians in the same sentence...need to flush them all.

[@girthquake1413]

America's Wastewater treatment is pretty advanced; not sure how you aussies do it, but depending on region of the US we flow it along with rainwater where similar areation occurs, though obviously massive in scale. The microbes in fact generate so much heat and are so active, treatment plants in some cities actually use heat pumps to move it to warm interior spaces during winter.

[@FruitTree]

Amazing job Mark. I'm totally looking up to you as a model for clean living.im even doing the youtube thing for many of the same reasons.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Thanks Brian! I can see you have a lot "growing on" there on your channel mate - great stuff! All the best :)

[@lararabb8888]

My sister had something similar. If they ran too much water through the system the sprinklers would pop up in the back yard.

[@eddiewilson8119]

Thank you for sharing this information!

[@Budgetb]

We love our septic system. Just purchased more hoses, made them longer & they (2)can reach anywhere on the acre. I don't have to hand or hose water anything now, not the veg though. Roses do well with that water. $250 a year for ours to be serviced here in Lockyer Valley. Had to buy a new aerated the other day 9 years old, that stung!

[@pollenhead]

Came home from work one afternoon and found Roto Rooter parked in my spot and the toilet in the front yard. My youngest had flushed all our toothbrushes. He was a cute kid, I'm gonna miss him.

[@danielhaxton2884]

Nice video, anyone thought about the home biogas systems? Burnable methane and fertiliser all in one waste system

[@AnarchAnjel]

Most definitely this should be put in use, I have a septic system and I wish I had the ability to do this.

[@StillRunningWithPointedSticks]

Water Resources Management. Excellent.

[@benschram]

using an organic floor cleaner detergent I mop the floors. All the budgie poo makes the water super rich and I wait for the water to cool down and water my fruit trees and grass as shown here. The flower beds love it especially.

[@hazeorner8537]

Hi Mark thanks for the videos! Have you ever thought of using the sludge to make humanure compost? Might be an interesting project to add to the ever-growing list

[@arronjohnston742]

talking shit Mark 🤣🤣🤣 .......... great video bud, even if it does stink 🤣

[@MKSouthernStar]

Hi Mark and folks online. I'm preparing for the summer rains in Northern NSW. Would love a video on what to grow and what to avoid. Tips on soil prep. How often to replenish the good nutrients etc

[@milo_g1557]

Im pretty sure he’s done a soil quality video before

[@bonnieblue1792]

Very interesting and informative. Also, my new favorite phrase ever- “poop sucking truck”. LOL you gave me my laugh for the day. 😁

[@AminEL7]

Another great video, sound idea for cities and councils to implement. For a conscious planet !

[@RaExpIn]

When you use the dish washer and shower, do you have to take care of the detergent/shampoo or soap? Can you use regular ones or do they have to be especially biodegradable?

[@asdisskagen6487]

Septic systems need to use products that are designated "safe for septic systems" which are normally clearly posted on the product's label. This goes for toilet paper as well as all detergents. Additionally, there are products made for septic systems which contain beneficial microorganisms that will "super charge" or inoculate septic systems which may not be breaking down waste quickly enough.

[@RaExpIn]

@@asdisskagen6487 Thanks for the info!

[@Selfsufficientme]

We don't have to buy "septic only" detergents and soaps but we don't use harsh chemicals for cleaning. Households with these systems are advised to use septic-friendly products, but if it's safe to wash your hair or clothes, it's generally safe to put through the system. For the past 16 years, we've just used whatever general products we wanted and our system has always stayed healthy. Cheers :)

[@BoxyBoss1]

Can you make a video on best way to grow indoor/basement? Thank you

[@macw2234]

Humorous and very informative. Best to you mate

[@robinhaupt9119]

Good information, thank you Mark.

[@GardeningWithJohn]

That's a really good system you have Mark and I think if on a smaller plot or scale grey water only systems can work more easily for those places, every little helps. All the best, John, Hampshire, UK.

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day John! Yes, for sure, good points! Cheers :)

[@IceVoVo123]

Ha - I really look forward to watching your vid's during my lunch break, but I've had to put this one on hold until I finished eating!! Keep doing what you do!! :)

[@yolover111]

idk about my sewage water. but fasho the washer and shower/sink water. would be a real dope way to water your plants in the back yard

[@SBoots29]

I live water front and the Powers that be will not let us recycle water. It must all be collected and trucked out. I'm just waiting for the tres to grow a little more then we will put in a system like yours. Great video. the down and dirty must be told.

[@kathrynletchford5114]

Could you do a video, on how you set your hoses up please. I was particularly interested in how you made the holes, in the large hose you were moving. Thanks.

[@TheIrishAmish]

I’m very surprised you’re not seeing a problem spraying freshly chlorinated water. If the chlorinated water was given time in open air for chlorine dissipation it would be much better for what it’s being applied to.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Not only that but the trees and grass where this water is applied become greener and healthier than if watered with normal water. So I guess the amount of chlorination mustn't be enough to hurt the plants. I suppose they thought of that when they made the system... It wouldn't be a good sales pitch otherwise if it killed your garden lol... All the best :)

[@WhatHappenedIn-vt3vq]

This is great to know. My mom damaged my grandma's garden almost beyond repair, but I think I can still restore it if I can get enough water as I try mulch it. Edit: Watched longer and I think I just need to use it to grow the grass and I can try compost it. It's still water displacement for me

[@jenniferjsaracino]

This is interesting in the US ours is an anaerobic system. So no electricity to keep it cycling but also the leech lines are fixed.

[@bendonaldson9026]

Hello Jennifer

[@SegalsCareer]

this was a fun video ^_^ I remember as a kid our mobile home (it was old before we even got to it) would back up and clog with the gray-water from the laundry and sink. So my grandfather dug up a trench and a big basin at the far end of the property where it could drain. And those cotton wood trees and orange trees thrived! Never wanted for anything and held their leaves most of winter every year

[@bradlafferty]

Terrific presentation! I don’t believe that it was long-“winded” at all! ;-) There is much potential for widespread use of wastewater re-use to both take advantage of natural nutrients and to help conserve fresh water. Please show us more of this information, if you would! Thanks, Mark. BTW, enjoyed the septic guys’ stories!

[@Selfsufficientme]

Hahaha... Thank you. Glad you also enjoyed the stories! Cheers :)

[@josh300]

Hey Mark, great content. I wonder why haven't you gone the dry toilet way? You could compost your waste and turn it into fertilizer, and cut expenses on the septic tank services. If properly done, there should not be any odor. Cheers mate!

[@Selfsufficientme]

G'day José, thank you. A dry toilet is a great idea. The problem with doing that here would be the conversion issues engineering-wise and also the laws (as our property is still classed as semi-urban). Thanks for the suggestion, though! Cheers :)

[@mwmentor]

Cheers Mark - thanks for sharing your experiences with a septic tank - personally I have no problem with them at all. I would probably go a step further an reuse some of the for flushing loos. I find it staggering that in a world where water is becoming a scarcity, that cities in particular continue to promote the use of potable water for toilets... it is absolutely shocking!! And probably related to them making money from both ends of the system - delivery and removal (as in sewerage) I would love to put in a proper water recycling solution where I live, and may be sometime when I get to own my own property I will get that opportunity!! Be well and I love your videos - you know that!! Thanks Mate!! 👍🙂

[@ImRandomDude]

Thunder box :D First time hearing it and made my day better

[@DesiBookLover]

That's awesome. What about the detergents and soaps though? Do you need to use special biodegradable options?

[@ciaragarrity6425]

I bet he does, ECOS is a good detergent that is said to be biodegradable.

[@asdisskagen6487]

There are plenty of biodegradable soaps, detergents, and toilet paper. Most companies make at least one product that is biodegradable and they (at least in the US) aren't any more expensive than non-biodegradable products.

[@Selfsufficientme]

Yes, it does help to use septic-friendly soaps and detergents. Cheers :)

[@k.p.1139]

Hey Mark! I was wondering about you. Good to see you back!

[@GoAgainstTheOdds]

Haha loved this video, great info and conversations! I'll have to save it for when I have a bit more land, thanks!!

[@ramyaiyengar1161]

The stories the sucker men had were so funny. I rewatched the candy wrapper one three times. We have a suburban house in India, we don't have a septic tank... but we had a garden with a guava tree right in the front by the kitchen. And what my mother did, and taught us to do as well, that any water that came from washing veggies, or kitchen spills, or anything that comes from washing food off of dirty dishes before putting them in for wash, or things like that, all that water goes into a little bucket and directly out to the tree. Also in that little patch of garden was our kitchen compost pit. Food waste, vegetable peels, everything went in there. That tree never got watered apart from those two times a day when the dishes were washed/food was prepared. That garden patch, we've never fertilized. And that tree yeilds the sweetest, best-tasting guava every few months by the kilo.

[@RoyHolder]

Thanks Mark, been missing your videos. 👍

[@julseabate4173]

Mark you are an Earth Hero

[@lovelearn5158]

We've just started to be billed for water use per household. I did an experiment last night and today. I've kept the bath water and filled up 2 and 3 litre milk bottles and then plan to use that water for my veges today. I'm shocked at how much water would have gone down the drain! I'm now trying to figure out how to more conveniently recycle more of our grey water.

[@lovelearn5158]

ok....just realised I can't use bath water for the veges..only fruit trees maybe

[@Monkeyb00y]

I love this video. Just a quick question. Are you pulling water from a well? or is it local government/municipal water?

[@Selfsufficientme]

The water supply to our home is town (local/government). But, we also have tank, bore, and dam water to use for our veggie garden. Cheers :)

[@effieinglish]

LOL. A topic near and dear to my heart, but I just sat down with dinner and to watch a couple videos. I'll come back to this one later. 😉

[@jamesperry1944]

From hence forth, the toilet shall now be known only as the thunderbox. Thanks for that. Love your videos over here in Texas!

[@ginavandam735]

We use rainwater to water the veg. It is quite popular here among people who wants to live selfsufficient to have a freezedry separetttoilet that freezes the poop and then you burry it in the ground for 5 yrs..then you can use it as compost. The urine goes to a separat tank and you can use it as fertilizer. I think it is great if you have a system that works even without electricity, as times are nowadays

[@ruthshaw1037]

Awesome vlog mark. Thanks mate

[@whimsyandme3679]

I feel your pain Mark! Mr. Nobody lives at our house and seems to like to use nappy wipes when they go to the toilet. Our septic dude is forever telling us to tell the kids to stop. Shy of standing over them and frisking them before they enter the toilet, I don't know what else to do.

[@tun0fun]

Stop buying them?

[@jucjuc314]

The guys at the end are absolutely hilarious with their stories and the way they talk! 🤣 Thank you for sharing that, we just couldn't stop laughing.