We Installed A Gravity Septic System!

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We buried it alive! Installing the septic system has been a long hard project and we are glad to be done. Part of the headache was of our own doing, as we made a few mistakes along the way.
The system is made up of a 1,250 gal two chamber cement septic tank and three 65' drain line laterals using infiltrator panels. The infiltrator panels are really cool and very easy to install.
Be sure to see the whole story. • Bulding An Off Grid Yurt
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[@tobyswope6875]

Good job! It's funny I am almost in the same position. Gravity feed, 1250 concrete tank, 3 trenches at 45' long with 3' wide drain panels. I didn't read my plans right and dug my tank in too deep as well. I had to get the crane truck back out to the house to lift the tank so we could backfill 2' of dirt and level to set it back in properly. Got my 3 trenches dug out, so now I'm about to go buy the panels and distribution box right now. Inspiring vid, thanks.

[@andrewbell7696]

Been missing your updates. This was much needed. Glad to see progression.

[@Simplegroundlife]

+Andrew Bell Yes I was spending all my thoughts on playing the electrician. Now I'll get back to the updates.

[@SaintCoemgen]

We installed a fully contained home waste water treatment plant. The required drain field was trivial because out water from the plant is considered "agricultural grade". Also used infiltration panels for out water. And installed to code and as required for our treatment plant, that were literally.... wait for.... and I did *not* make a typo: 100th of the length of what you installed. But, of note, my infiltration panel instructions specified a lot more area around each panel for gravel, and greater minimum depth. So, I did dig quite a wider, deeper hole, but not one very long..... 😀 Gravity septic tanks are really old school. I like old school. Most of the time. But not with waste water treatment. Go modern with that. No, it was not cheap. Yes it required educating the local government a bit because we did it years ago before the bureaucracy fully understood this type of system. But it was the way to go, because now, today these plants are now the recommended method where we live. Yes. We were trail blazers. 😀

[@simonforget280]

(I'm finally catching up with all folks that I keep a closer eye on.) Digging this that deep was more work but totally worth it. You'll be able to drive on your sceptic system without fear of crushing it. It is one of the things that people generally overlook: taking the shortest path is generally not the best one. Keep up your excellent work.

[@sdafasdfasdfsda]

Yep, had it happen when the concrete truck showed up. Dig it deep, you won't regret it.

[@davidthompson5598]

I have installed alot of septic systems, if that's your first you done a great job

[@Simplegroundlife]

It is my first. Thanks.

[@JoeSmith-wz9kr]

Man for your first time doing this system you did a heck of a job I work in the septic business and have put in this system many times you did a better job than a lot of these guys that have doing it a long time

[@jameswhitley449]

Man you are lucky to be on your own and living the life

[@____________________________.x]

That's a fantastic achievement and a major building block for a homestead, now you can wee with pride :)

[@Simplegroundlife]

+horse1066 I'm glad it is done. That is for sure. I should also iterate that now my family can wee in comfort. I think worth even more when you have children.

[@CreatingASimplerLifeOffGrid]

Awesome! Glad we just found your channel. Will be checking out a lot more of your videos because we have a lot in common (except age LOL). Good job on the septic. We just did ours and your quoted price wasn't far off......

[@kameronkayson7120]

InstaBlaster.

[@mrsimpson2022]

love those great learning experiences!! glad u stuck it out dude

[@sinksalot8860]

I've made plenty of mistakes installing these types of systems. I am installing a system now. Hopefully I won't make any mistakes for the inspection!

[@CaptBill69]

Great Video and Info. In Costa Rica, a buddy showed me how duplicate the engineered Tunnel Leach Line idea with a three foot deep level ditch just wide enough to set those 8" wide (smaller w two hollows) building block bricks set in two rows just wide enough to place two similar building block over the set of each two blocks on the ground. We created two 60 plus foot leach field tunnels under a drive way in this manner after confirming the ditches leached water (drained after raining). We buried the tunnel with a leach line drop into both tunnels. Used a pipe Y fitting to split septic effluent into two equal flows. My septic effluent was cleaner from going through a second separate tank (could have been a second chamber in same tank). Stronger leach line pipe was a no brainer in the driveway area made stronger with cement casing. All of the tunnel including hollows inside all those brick were available to receive a septic tank leach line effluent charge. That charge area was significant compared to same volume of the small space between gravel in a traditional style leach line! The best part was that I was able use my gravel driveway for a leach line when I had limited options. The sealed up leach lines were strong enough to take a backhoe driving over em plus took a few big fully loaded 12 yard dump trucks driving over my leach line without damaging them. Food for ideas on efficient use of your dollars and a safe economical septic tank leach line field using the principles of engineered tunnel leach lines.

[@lisahuala6105]

sure would like a diagram of what you did with the blocks. Assuming they are cinderblocks?

[@CaptBill69]

@@lisahuala6105 Hi Lisa, ... Yes, I used cinder blocks. I used the thinner 6" x 16" size, and the 8" x 16" size would work great too; assuming your flat ditch leaches water (& not dug in a clay lined water barrier). If you use the bigger common 8" x 16" cinder block; you'd be laying two lines of them to put 8" x 16" blocks (flat and across sideway, on top of two lines of blocks. When the outside edges of base were spaced slightly more than top blocks, they might measure 18" or little more ( don't need to be exact); forming your tunnel that can be charged with your leach line fluid. IMO: This is a great option for a DIY septic tank leach line; that when covered, can also take some heavy traffic over the top, that would damage common leach lines. No way to attach a diagram on KZbin in messages 🏊🚣🎶🙂

[@lisanorwood946]

wow.. all i can say is you da man!!! 👏👏👏 dont know many who would take that on.. kuddos.. saved a fortune.. i live in south louisiana and thats about the going rate here

[@Simplegroundlife]

+lisa norwood It s amazing what it can cost to dig a hole and fill it back in.

[@lisanorwood946]

Simple Ground aint it the truth

[@jayphillips4058]

As someone who has a small excavating business, part of which involves septic repair/installation, it's not really the digging time a guy has to think about when bidding a job. It's the cost of keeping equipment in good repair and reliable, the many thousands of $$ for liability and commercial insurance every year, all the state and federal paperwork and permits to legally haul and transport material and machinery, and a host of other business expenses too numerous to mention. All that's before you pay yourself anything. I won't deny that some people charge a great plenty; I try and be more than fair but at the same time I want to be in business next year. And I get a sense you found out that experience is definitely worth something in this kind of project. : ) Nice job, btw, yes, a bit deeper is better but code says above groundwater and impervious soil layer and/or bedrock, generally about 24" of cover is preferable. And I've no idea why an elbow in a D-box - never even heard of that before. I imagine so a sudden surge of water would be dispersed instead of all heading towards one particular D-box pipe.

[@rajmutalik2297]

Awesome job! How much it cost?

[@12vLife]

6:09 what would have been the minimum depth? What's the capacity of this system? Did you consider a low profile Poly tank? Did you have to do a soil test? No sand required? Anybody look into the Envirofin product?

[@jean-guyboulanger2418]

est-il possible de savoir ou l'on se procurer la tuyauterie pour faire un champ d'épuration comme celui-la, merci.

[@beachlife1411]

Yes it is I'm watching your Chan as well of many others to

[@givewell1]

Where did you get the materials? Do you need anything special to buy the chambers, such as permit, license, etc?

[@boondockingforjesus3871]

How are you dealing with mud? Cars getting stuck, etc?

[@mytree123]

Thank you

[@thomashennig1357]

This is a great video! it has some great info! In my personal opinion, i wouldn't drive over your field to much with your tractor. you don't want to compact the dirt to much. This can cause your bed to prematurely fail. Ideally its best to keep that soil light so its easy for your system to drain, if you pack it to much your biomat may form sooner because of the packed soil.

[@Simplegroundlife]

Thanks.

[@glenngoodale1709]

This was a great video

[@ugtitto2654]

Such a huge drain field? I have a three-bedroom bungalow on a half an acre plot. Just moved in. Any idea how can I figure the size of my drain field? I want to plant a few fruit trees...

[@jkevin1569]

What size is that green pipe if you don't mind me asking?

[@simonbuffalobulltail1152]

could you do a tour of the house? i might build one this year. a family of 3 :)

[@CliffsideStables]

Would you mind sharing how much total time elapsed from the time you started till the time you totally finished this project? Do you have any sense of how many hours the total project involved? Thanks, Tim

[@chrisE815]

200 hours diy? 50 hours for a pro. That would be my guess

[@duelette]

I believe you are just suppose to push the pipe into the tank through the rubber. Not pull it out and put a hose clamp on it. The hose clamp will rust and be gone. It will be fine I'm sure. Nice work

[@LolitasGarden]

Dead and buried. And you can pee on its grave. Great work. I always feel like you're talking just to me when you update. Good luck on the next piece!!

[@Simplegroundlife]

+Lolita's Garden Yes, and I buried it just for that purpose! Your welcome. And thanks for the tool. I can't wait to show it to everyone.

[@gina4319]

is a perc test required when replacing an existing drain field / Leach field

[@Charles77598]

The deeper your field the less it works. Evaporation of the moisture works better at a minimum depth. Don't pack the dirt.

[@JoeSmith-wz9kr]

He said 3 foot deep that's good we see ppl putting them in 5 feet deep or deeper putting houses on top of the tanks under porches etc

[@user-cr6gh5vp3d]

how much time it took

[@Greenwashedhipppie]

Sweet !

[@sitedev]

Good stuff and very informative. I'm going to spend some time learning more about "gravity fed septic systems" ... think of all the great conversation starters I'll have at BBQ's :) ... but seriously - it's a big thing to consider when going "off grid".

[@Simplegroundlife]

+Chris Walker It is true, I can hardly afford to run one pump, let alone two. Though septic systems my my a little dirty for civil conversation.

[@johnwootton9031]

I hope you marked everything so if anything happens you know just where you have to go.

[@tacomafan7488]

thats a big tank!

[@scottwebber652]

Short of the 3’ required below the line why not leave it lower it won’t freeze easily

[@keithdunnivan8099]

Ive got a failed infiltrator system that is 22 years old. im now looking at installing a new one and am concerned about the clay in my ground. How much sand should i lay in the trench and what should i fil in over the top of infiltrator chambers? Im assuming the clay is a bad idea as a back fill.

[@Simplegroundlife]

I'm not really sure. It really depends on your soil and any restrictive layers. My soil has good drainage and I could use the infiltrator panels as intended without any extra fill in the trench.

[@k.b.322]

It’s smart to install perforated pipe inside the infiltrators, then you can service your drain field in the future if it fails (Via jetter).

[@truthseekerKJV]

Why didn't you put some septic gravel under the drain field ??

[@allenallen6474]

Cost doing it yourself?

[@VaajmooByte]

Why not pour a few inches gravel rock under the pipe and not use rock or cement block to hold the pipe instead of a Nylon tie ?

[@spikemorbid7159]

I understand your first time of this headache. You do realize they make plastic septic tanks?? I used to work at the factory where they are made.

[@rubensalais1502]

Congrats, you save some bucks doing it you self

[@ProductKingReviews]

Mine is $13,000. Granted Inflation has gotten crazy since this video was made. Mine is also 300 feet of leach field not 195 feet like yours. Also I have a 1,500 gallon main tank. Yours is probably 1,000 feet. Also had to install second pump tank with a pump grinder.

[@huckdeep]

I think it would improve your videos if you explained what the various parts of the system are and how they work, how it processes the waste, how much flow it can handle, why you’re installing it, how it’s better or worse than alternatives, how it fits into your master plan, etc... . What you’re doing is really cool, but without more context i find it hard to feel a connection with the project.

[@debbiekelly4203]

I Love The Videos

[@unclegrandpah8400]

I hope this is not a silly question but I don't know anything about septic tanks... "What are the three lateral infiltrator panels for?"

[@Simplegroundlife]

+Uncle Grandpah So the laterals are the 65' drain lines. My septic system has three main stages the two camera of the tank are the first two and the laterals (drain field) are the third. First, the waste that drains from the house and goes to the main chamber of the tank where the heavy solids sink to the bottom. Second, the clearer water overflows to the second chamber where any remaining particles have a chance to settle out. Third, the "cleared" water is distributed to the three laterals and filters through the soil into the ground. I hope that helps.

[@constructionchannel2400]

Good fantastic

[@johnnytolley673]

Where are you?? State?city

[@craigflatley7370]

👍

[@todd0neal96]

did you get it certified through the county

[@Simplegroundlife]

Yes I did.

[@jamesp7623]

Simple Ground Can you explain or show how the drainage pipes under the panels work. Thanks

[@networkbike543]

This seems a lot for one house.

[@damanwazhere]

Lol dat yard tho

[@jameslemon51]

I think your lines are very small for septic line.

[@sinksalot8860]

Just subbed. Want to see your project. My cabin is built but not finished so have lots to do! Ck out our cabin vids when you get a chance!

[@rb3158]

W

[@okanaganpeterjames]

Where I live it costs 30000 it is illegal to do it yourself.

[@TheAzurTim]

We do do things differently here in Bosnia...

[@manfredvonrichthofen4738]

the only one that didn't screw up was the that done nothing

[@ShaneHarderPhoto]

I got a bid for over $100,000. So $8000 sounds great.

[@RJMx-zz8nq]

Well you sure put a lot of time effort and money into the drainfield and septic tank. Blood sweat and tears too I'm sure. Did you consider using composting toilets and then recycling the gray water from the sinks and showers for gardening and other uses like perhaps a self cleaning natural shrubbery pond. If you use natural cleaners like borax, lemon extracts, hydrogen peroxide etc. and don't dump chemicals down the drain your gray water is perfectly safe. I'd be real interested in seeing an actual real world comparison of the true costs of setups like yours and composting recycling systems. I enjoy your videos and learn from them, I'll be cheering you on from the sidelines. Go with God brother.

[@Simplegroundlife]

+R.J. Mx I have considered this and we were using this system in our camp trailer. The county requires that a house has a septic system so I had to install it. I've had the idea of building a division valve to choose where the water is channeled and so on. I'm definitely going to use a composting toilet instead of an outhouse as the homestead grows. Thanks for the great comment!

[@scottwebber652]

Relief is spelled goodump !!

[@jerrynonofbss2588]

It would had been nice to learn from your mistakes, that's the point of sharing. You show us almost a finished process.

[@nobikubota]

DeAn Martin I

[@idgaf2671]

Haha downward slope = Fall

[@2wwwilly]

Takes alot of space..what about small plot ..why not the biological septic system no need to worry future maintenance..

[@manuelgoncalves6316]

Iji

[@craigwillson5974]

As a Septic Professional who's worked in the Septic and Sewer Industry for over 20 years, the price you were given of $7,800.00 is a bargain! Although I'm not a fan of Plastic Chamber Systems, I wouldn't have touched your job for less than $10,000.00 but I would have also done it differently. To be honest, digging trenches for Infiltrator Chambers is not the best way to install them. I recommend digging an open area known as a Leach Bed or Drainage Bed, so you can lay the chambers out in parallel rows with about a foot between each row, and fill in between the rows with crushed stone up to the top of the chambers. I also recommend covering the entire area with Filter Fabric to prevent the stone or aggregate from getting plugged up with silt or sand. Lastly, instead of venting the far end of each row of chambers, simply build at manifold at the end of the system, so that all the chambers get airflow from a single vent pipe. By the way, the vent pipe is commonly referred to as a Goose Neck Vent or a Candy Cane Vent, and one 4 inch vent pipe is adequate for the entire system, as long as it sticks up between 3 and 4 feet above finished grade.

[@jonnievonangel1]

All people in your industry are thieves always have been always will be . Pvc gravel and sand are the cheapest materials on the planet 🌎

[@reggieglover5]

I thought since you are "off the grid" you didn't need to have anything inspected? Guess I was wrong.

[@paulglover3452]

At 3:20 you say "I have the lines coming out to the lateral, each 1 needs to be slopped, but the box and the laterals need to be perfectly level." I'm assuming the "lines" are the green pipes and the "laterals" are the corrugated black tunnels? You then say "These infiltrator panels are really slick..." I'm assuming again that you are calling the corrugated black tunnels (or laterals?) "infiltrator panels". Am I correct that you are referring to the black corrugated tunnels as "laterals" and as "infiltrator panels" or are you speaking of 2 different components and I'm misunderstanding what should be level vs what should be slopped?

[@Bill37nj]

System will fail in a few years using chamber systems. No evaporation of the chamber, Stone is the best for anaerobic bacteria and evap. we rip them out all the time. Even met with manufacture owner/Rep. and asked me if i can help with what to do.

[@joshalger6059]

Bill correct these infiltrators fail all the time. Stone is much more reliable

[@carlosgraft7386]

Don’t fail if you run the punched pipe all the way inside the infiltrators hehe that’s the trick! So even collapsing you’ll have even flowing along . Sandy areas are more prone to collapse ...

[@rickwest2818]

Seems like the chamber would squish into the ground at the edges, and soil would be displaced up into the chamber.

[@Mikey-qf6cd]

Mine infiltrators fails in 1 year has been a absolute nightmare I will never use these again

[@eddiehernandez854]

7500 that's cheap

[@JoeSmith-dh1rz]

Yo a mistake son

[@giltk8258]

No such thing septic to deep. Especially only 1.5 ft.

[@rinkevichjm]

Using a Roth Multitank would have been better as a septic tank. Your mistake could have been cured by you.

[@seigneurjesuistoipshaw.5359]

WHAT'S IT LIKE BEING SO POOR, THAT YOU HAVE TO LIVE IN A YURT?

[@Simplegroundlife]

Right? But honestly this life is rich and full living simply.

[@seigneurjesuistoipshaw.5359]

@@Simplegroundlife I lived off grid myself in the early 90's, (Best time of my life! ) But then another stupid woman came along and gate-crashed my perfect life... Thankfully i have just managed to get rid of her after twenty years. Hence i can built my invisible cob gully home in peace. I hope you have settled in nicely!

[@GabrielGarcia-xh1xi]

Fix it yeah - quoted you high because you messed up. Just pay to do it right. It looks like crap

[@DB-cx6cb]

Nasty? Are you serious? You saved about $10 grand on average and you didn’t get any fecal matter on you! Quit whining and be grateful you have two arms and feet to perform this work. There are plenty in wheelchairs that would gladly swap places with you!😡