We had these when I was a kid (about 50 years ago) on our farm, 3 things I’d add, place top of barrels below frost line, add gravel below barrels and up to top of side drain holes, and lastly we’d find a dead critter, squirrels, cats whatever that had been infested with maggots and throw in first barrel they’ll eat the solids and you’ll never have to clean,pump or add more barrels! Old school !!
this is exactly what I was hoping to come across , a good Ol Boy figuring out how to get somthing done with limited resources. Thank you for your time with this. Code is for yuppies and flatlanders
Thank you. Viewing from Malawi. 99%+ of areas don't have codes. This is absolute budget friendly and easy to execute. Thank you. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Wife and I bought a little trailer house in 1980. Couldn’t afford a septic system. Built what you have here with only two barrels. Lasted 10 years with us and our three boys. Attached about 120’ of drain pipe for a drain field. Never had to have it pumped out. Kept Ridex or buttermilk in it. I think that’s what kept everything broke down. Thanks for a great video.
@@ka24detpower I am using three inch. You don't really need four inch unless you're running some huge unit or something where there is going to be quite a lot of sewage.
Best diy septic video on TH-cam. Very simple and straight to the point without all the technical crap and fancy words, tools and equipment. Great job sir
I figured if my next door neighbors are allowed to have a thirty foot high pile of cow shit behind my back fence I'm not going to bother checking for "codes" when i save myself thousands of dollars this spring building this. Thanks for the video
I made a similar system with a 300 gallon plastic tote and two plastic barrels with 2 10ft drain pipes and a load of gravel. It's been working great for over 5 years now. There are 2 "tiny homes" (an RV and a converted shed) attached to it.
I appreciate the time you put into showing us all in detail how to create a good diy septic system. Never mind the narcissistic A holes with negative comments. They must vent because they are full of waste just like this 3 barrel setup. You sir are wise an kind. Many will see the value of your knowledge and use it. Take care and thank you. I just got a remote cabin up no water or elec out here so no code either. 🙏
Awesome system. I suggest a filter fabric root barrier wrap around the barrels with holes to prevent roots growing into them. Also every 6 months, chop up a tomato and send it into the first tank. The enzymes in tomatoes help accelerate the bacterial break down process of the solids and is cheaper than expensive store bought septic tank treatments. Nicely done brother !!
Out here in west Tennessee myself, and I'm with you, brother. "The law to live trumps all laws and codes". When I build my 20 unit apartment complex in Ukraine, I'm using this design, however, I might modify for a leach field.
City plumber here, never delt w.septic systems before but I love this system. They make long sweeps w.an outlet on its side where you could have that peekaboo at the last barrel and continue on with some perforated piping for an additional leech field just to be safe. Might last 25+ years w.basic maintenance.
I did this with 2 barrels, and 20 feet of perforated black drain pipe. It worked perfectly. No smell, no mess. Its suggested to use 2 for one person, and add one for each additional person. I think its as efficient and hygenic as the approved ones. Btw, someone left an older used one here, and it let it evaporate, and when it was over, it had only a small amount of "dirt" , and you'd never guess what it was.
Hello from Türkiye! I really appreciate your videos, we have just bought a little piece of land in a tiny town and placed a tiny house on it. They told us there is a sewage system but local elections are soon and they won't do anything until new mayor elected. We decided we cannot hold our poops until then, and should make our own sanitary system. There are a lot of diy videos of this topic but yours is the best with all the explanation and different types of systems. ❤ Much love from Turkiye!
I live in Peru and pay $370 for a plastic septic tank that works very well. They call it a biodigestor. I can buy those plastic barrels for $30 a piece so this would save me money for an economy job
Great simple system...Too many channels don't explain things simply and make it sound complicated...As septic systems are basically a simple process...One thing you could do is run a 4" line into first barrel so you can have a access line to pump the solids ...You also could wrap the two drain barrels with non woven fabric before backfilling and place some gravel around the base of the last two barrels...and lay fabric over the gravel then backfill
I did the same thing on a cabin. I built for my son. Used 4 tanks. 2 were for solids. One feeds into the other. Then that 2nd solid tank feeds into 2 drain field tanks drilled with holes and filled with crushed stone.
A better way to do this is to use blue barrels with removable lids and bands. This guy used an excavator whereas I used a hand shovel. I used 4 barrels and 2 twenty foot leech lines. Trenches and pit, was done by hand and with removable lids, connections were a snap! All told the digging, fitment, and backfill took about 2 months. Sure beats pooping in 13 gallon trash bags!
Brother I love all of your work and your videos showing more cheap and efficient ways on dyi septic systems. I am buying 10 acres off grid and will definitely be utilizing some of your methods. Your vids definitely help people. The time is rapidly approaching where people will have a choice to go off grid or be a slave. Thanks for all of the help
I did a similar thing for my camper, I lived in it for a bit when covid hit. But I had 4 barrels in a square pattern, all dumping across to each other. But all of my barrels had holes, and I had probably 200’ of pipe coming out into a makeshift leech field, added this part. I dig a hole that left 24” around the entire collage and I buried the entire thing with gravel not dirt except the top 4-6”
Watching in from Fiji...We do these kinds of Septic Tank Procedure. It saves us alotta money as we have plastic barrels scattered around and is put to good use Vinaka 👌🏽
Very helpful video. I am about to buy a travel trailer to put on my farm out in rural Texas. I have been looking for a septic solution and your system fits the bill. Thank you for taking the time to put this video together-- and thanks for the clarification on the 3-1/4" hole--that was the only thing that didnt make any sense and I didnt see your correction until i decided to comment. Thanks again!
Im glad i found this video. Im fixing to build about the same thing. Im thinking maybe those big ibc plastic tanks but seeing the barrel deal might be better
Although I would prefer an aerobic system I love this idea as it requires less maintenance (no additional energy required) 2 things to consider Tow barrels for the first section ( greatly increased capacity) Instead of a grinder which is expensive and requires power You might consider using Bidets which eliminate the need for TP. Thanks so much for this video. OH BTW Important not mentioned please do a perc test to determine if the soil has the capacity to leach effluent. Too much clay in the soil will greatly affect the system and it can fill up fast.
Great details for the beginners going off-grid. I was raised in the Florida Everglades and Dad used a similar system with steel barrels. Worked for 5 years till we moved away. Head's up on a few things I've learned about lately; Put some live yeast into the first barrel to activate the solid's breakdown faster and NEVER use harsh chemicals to clean the toilet with which will stop this process. Use natural soap, biodegradable, nontoxic cleaners. SIMPLE GREEN is my choice. Also to prevent roots from growing into the system you can use a copper mesh wire around the barrels, a little costly but saves on digging again or building another system. I liked the other comments about using tomatoes and maggot infested critters. Haven't tried it yet but I will keep those in mind. I Also use a small odor controlled trash can next to my toilet for after doing my paperwork, since I prefer a thicker paper that would plug up most RV systems, then I burn that every night before bed along with the other paper/wood/cardboard trash. I compost my biodegradables and any meat scraps go to the cat, dog and what ever stray creatures come along after they are done.
A lot of people had these systems where I grew up. They were all two barrel systems made from the steel drums and 50’ of field line. They didn’t perforate the second barrel. The main problems people had with them was rusting out and root masses inside around where the pipe went in or out. This system shouldn’t have any problems.
I have used these before but I cut them lengthwise, remove the top and lay them end to end with the ends overlapping. It's very strong and will not compress underground. The end effect is the plastic half drums end up forming a long arch. The structure is not unlike the leaching chambers that a lot of people use in place of the older leach line systems that tend to clog with roots on occasion. Of course this would never go in a big city such as say, San Francisco. Cities like San Francisco have highly technical and ridged building codes. No way can you just throw up a makeshift shelter there and just shit in the streets. There would be human fecies all over the town and eventually medieval disease would start to spread. That's why big cities have these codes to protect public health.
I rather think it's ashamed urban areas don't allow certain citizens to enjoy primitive camping on city sidewalks. They could perform valuable municipal services like picking up trash, making commuters' windshield sparkle, keeping on the lookout for and notifying authorities about "shady" characters and most importantly beautifying our underpasses with folk art.
Oh wait. The homeless people in San Francisco are already shitting in the streets. Have you not heard. They have a shit avoiding map you can purchase to try not to step in it.
TY. I’m adding a small home & will be using this. I originally thinking 2 barrels but 3 is better. NE TN here too. I will add a cloth around the 2nd & 3rd barrels. I alrdy had to fix my main septic to the house cause of roots clogging the main outlet line. Easy fix with a backhoe
put crushed stone, encapsulated in filter fabric, around the leaching barrels so the stone doesn't get choked up with dirt and reduce its ability to disperse / infiltrate the liquids.
Nice idea but I would be concerned about the soil compressong the barrels;but maybe starting out with full (H2O) ma prevent crushing. My only advise is, if you can route grey water (wash water, soaps, detergents, clorox, any bacteria killing substance) away from the first digester and onto a fourth tank (grey water only barrel) that would be good. If you dont kill off the bacteria digesting the waste you wont have solids building up. Your only expense would be the extra PVC you'd have to by but it beats the cost of a honey dipper truv coming to pump ot the system
If you place large rocks around the outside of the blue cans it gives a leach system then a plastic film can be placed over the hole supported by the rocks. Cover this film with a few inches of dirt and you have a leach system that won't collapse inward and with the dirt over it no oder..
*I've been pondering the idea of embarking on a rain harvesting project lately. The prospect of harnessing nature's gift, rainwater, for my yard has me truly excited. I can't help but wonder: do you think this concept would align perfectly with my specific needs and situation? 🌧💧🍃*
Very nice job. I think it even may be a little over kill 😊. My question to you is how do you get a 3” pipe though a 1” and a 1/4”hole 🤔. I’m a retired master plumber that’s a good trick 😊. After watching the hole video I see you are using the second barrels for a leach line 😊. I like the idea, I think I would like to have more than one barrel for the solids :-). I’ve had a lot of septics pumped over the years and a small septic will fill up pretty quickly 😢.
If your really a retired Master Plumber then you understand Scooter that it’s no problem to squeeze a 3” fitting into an 1 1/4” hole with the right amount of plumbers lube brother 😂
I built a similar system and the run off is cleaner (yes, tested) than my original (to NC code) system. I filter through the three "chambers", through a screen "catch" than out to my leach field
Thanks I have been thinking about using barrels for a septic system. I wasn't sure about the best way to make it work . I was going to use two barrels and 5 or 10 gallon bucket for a junction box drain field ? 3 and like you're and third barrel 3 drain fields . I have wet land here in GA It's 1 just for temporary . Camper that is being remolding into a tiny house to live in while I'm remodeling on the main two homes and building tiny houses on the land . The main house has a septic system in the back yard but bought the place camper was in front yard 50 ft + away house , camper was in bad shape to move it but still can live in part of it while remolding , I needed a septic system. But the water table is a few feet, digging 1 or 2 ft down the water starts filling in the hole . The well pump is 20 ft and 8 or 10 hit water . Question is the barrel septic system works for a temporary 3 to 6 month on wet land? And what the best way I build system to work where I wouldn't have to pump solids out of the septic system ?
It must be Winter time because I don't see any flies .😁 There is NO smell worse than pumping out a porta potty or septic tank , when the two are churned together .
So i tried to use a plastic barrel like this and the soil pressed the sides of the tank in. I am going to try wrapping the barrel with wire fencing, then use sprayfoam to cover the wire with about 3 inches of polyfoam. I'm hoping the strength of the plastic will be as good as putting cement around the barrel. If the sprayfoam doesn't work then cement will have to be put around the barrels. The other thing i did with my barrels was to cut off the bottom of another barrel and place the top half over the tank barrel. I cut the top out of the barrel half then i had a service space over the tank barrel. Also I'm going to put a dirty water pump in the tank to pump out the sludge once a month so it can digest better.
Interesting to see other systems than I am usually installing (which is factory manufactured systems in Northern Europe). This is almost a 3-chamber system, which is good, even if not according to US code regulations. However, I would only drill holes in the third barrell. And T-connections are probably not needed for the ingoing connections in the 2nd and 3rd barrel. But it is not bad to have it. Still, the outgoing water might need some more infiltration area than this, depending on the use of the septic system. A gravel field is usually used, but there are cubes made of plastic netting that reduces the infiltration area needed. Perhaps something similar can be used for this. With these modifications you might get a system that actually is quite efficient compared to regulatory approved systems with little risk of contaminating drinking water sources.
put 3/4" crushed stone from the bottom to the top of the pipes, encapsulated in filter fabric, around the leaching barrels so the leaching holes and the stone doesn't get choked up with dirt and reduce its ability to disperse / infiltrate the liquids.
My grandparents had this on their farm in Missouri in the 50's. Only problems ever were in the summer when people would come to visit and put TP in the toilet. Grandpa would have to go unclog the pipe going to the barnyard. We all knew better: TP went in the trash can.
Put a half gallon of buttermilk in it once a month, it will run from now on, the bacteria in the buttermilk will feast on the solids! Don’t forget to put a vent pipe somewhere In line.
Thank you trying to help daughter get into tiny house. Going to just run toilet into tank all other gray water into woods. Should last a lifetime. Again thank you.
I’d say that is why he put the door on it. There really wouldn’t be much reason for access to the first 2 barrels. Only reason I could think of is maybe if your ex came over asking for a drink!!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
Or you can do like I did. Watched the video. Decided that this is what I want to do. Rewatched the video and studied his design. Lol… I found myself typing out the items used…. 🤦🏻♂️! Look man if you like the design, rewatch and pause. Look. Write. Unpause. Watch. Pause. Write. Unpause. Etc!
Pretty simple, 3 55gallon plastic barrels, 2 3in T fittings 1 3in coupler 1 3in 90 2 3in 45s 3in pvc pipe 2 4in hinges 2 ball strikes Personally, I would add 3in perforated pipe and drain socks for the leach field and wrap the perforated drums with filter fabric and put pea gravel or 5/8 minus around everything that needs drainage. Along with filter fabric above and below the barrels...
Aloha Appalachian American: Stan here in Maui I am getting ready to install your 3 barrels septic system this Saturday..I like your design very much thanks for putting it on Utube..I have two questions: I am planning to fill the area around the barrels to about 20" with 1 1/4" gravel (I drilled 1" holes in barrels 2 and 3) and then I am thinking off putting window screening on top of the gravel and then top off the gravel level to the surface with a mixture of excavated soil and gravel. that would be about 20" on top of the gravel/screening..My thought is that the screening would slow or stop dirt from above from entering the weeping field..What do you think about this idea? Stan
Just need clarity. When you say drop the barrel are you actually dropping the barrel down about an inch or just the inlets and outlets? In your reckoning, when would the first barrel need to be cleared? Two people will be using this. What size are these barrels? Litre wise.
I have land in Costilla CO, where land is cheap, undeveloped and rural and specifically designed for off grid living and there is no specific code for a septic as long as it works and does not leak waste, so there are pleanty of places in the US where code does not exist, specifically in rural undeveloped land designed for off grid living.
You can't even fart without a permit in Castilla County. Had a buddy that had some land in Trinchera Ranch. His boys own it now. But when he told the county govt he was going to build an "off grid" structure, they told him he would have to build a 1500g septic system. Which he would have had to get a permit for. His argument was that he only spends about 2 days at a time, 4 or 5 times a year on his own land. So in his eyes, that kind of "policing" was bullshit. So, his plan was to go underground with the structure. Sadly he never got around to it before he passed away. Castilla County is the poorest county in the entire state and they will get any last cent from you that they think they can.
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We had these when I was a kid (about 50 years ago) on our farm, 3 things I’d add, place top of barrels below frost line, add gravel below barrels and up to top of side drain holes, and lastly we’d find a dead critter, squirrels, cats whatever that had been infested with maggots and throw in first barrel they’ll eat the solids and you’ll never have to clean,pump or add more barrels! Old school !!
So that's why Tom Sawyer and Huck Fin wanted a dead cat?
If you can’t get below frost use rigid foam, it blocks the frost, over hang in all directions 6-12”
how do the maggots survive with all the water? how do the flies survive to reproduce?
@@mrniusi11 Teenage Mutant Ninja Maggots 🎶pupating in a hard shell,🎶 Maggot Power! 🎶
@@mrniusi11 they live. I have a pork roast floating in my tank. I put it in over a month ago. Covered in maggots.
"The Law to Live trumps all laws and all codes." I love that statement. Made me want to subscribe. Thanks.
Thank you!
this is exactly what I was hoping to come across , a good Ol Boy figuring out how to get somthing done with limited resources. Thank you for your time with this. Code is for yuppies and flatlanders
Thank you. Viewing from Malawi. 99%+ of areas don't have codes.
This is absolute budget friendly and easy to execute.
Thank you. Your efforts are greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Wife and I bought a little trailer house in 1980. Couldn’t afford a septic system. Built what you have here with only two barrels. Lasted 10 years with us and our three boys. Attached about 120’ of drain pipe for a drain field. Never had to have it pumped out. Kept Ridex or buttermilk in it. I think that’s what kept everything broke down. Thanks for a great video.
Was that running just your toilet or your whole house?
What is the diameter of the pipes needed? 3"? Or 4"?
@@ka24detpower I am using three inch. You don't really need four inch unless you're running some huge unit or something where there is going to be quite a lot of sewage.
@@j.b.5691 thanks a lot man, now I'm ready :)
@@ka24detpowerhe used 3 1/4 inch hole saw
Best diy septic video on TH-cam. Very simple and straight to the point without all the technical crap and fancy words, tools and equipment. Great job sir
I hit subscribe when you said the law to live trumps all laws and codes. This is the first video I have seen.
I figured if my next door neighbors are allowed to have a thirty foot high pile of cow shit behind my back fence I'm not going to bother checking for "codes" when i save myself thousands of dollars this spring building this. Thanks for the video
Awesome!
This video was inspirational for my poor folks in small town, Gurdaan/Warmaxun, south of Mogadishu (45kms), Somalia. Thanks a million.
Glad I could help
I made a similar system with a 300 gallon plastic tote and two plastic barrels with 2 10ft drain pipes and a load of gravel. It's been working great for over 5 years now. There are 2 "tiny homes" (an RV and a converted shed) attached to it.
300 gallon tote for solids and 2 55 gallon drums for your liquid drainage?
I appreciate the time you put into showing us all in detail how to create a good diy septic system. Never mind the narcissistic A holes with negative comments. They must vent because they are full of waste just like this 3 barrel setup. You sir are wise an kind. Many will see the value of your knowledge and use it. Take care and thank you. I just got a remote cabin up no water or elec out here so no code either. 🙏
Awesome system. I suggest a filter fabric root barrier wrap around the barrels with holes to prevent roots growing into them. Also every 6 months, chop up a tomato and send it into the first tank. The enzymes in tomatoes help accelerate the bacterial break down process of the solids and is cheaper than expensive store bought septic tank treatments. Nicely done brother !!
I was wondering about roots. Just to help prevent & last longer.
Out here in west Tennessee myself, and I'm with you, brother. "The law to live trumps all laws and codes". When I build my 20 unit apartment complex in Ukraine, I'm using this design, however, I might modify for a leach field.
I'm in west Tennessee I'm building this too
City plumber here, never delt w.septic systems before but I love this system. They make long sweeps w.an outlet on its side where you could have that peekaboo at the last barrel and continue on with some perforated piping for an additional leech field just to be safe. Might last 25+ years w.basic maintenance.
"a twenty unit apartment complex" 😂 you killed me with that one
I did this with 2 barrels, and 20 feet of perforated black drain pipe.
It worked perfectly.
No smell, no mess.
Its suggested to use 2 for one person, and add one for each additional person.
I think its as efficient and hygenic as the approved ones.
Btw, someone left an older used one here, and it let it evaporate, and when it was over, it had only a small amount of "dirt" , and you'd never guess what it was.
Hello from Türkiye! I really appreciate your videos, we have just bought a little piece of land in a tiny town and placed a tiny house on it. They told us there is a sewage system but local elections are soon and they won't do anything until new mayor elected. We decided we cannot hold our poops until then, and should make our own sanitary system. There are a lot of diy videos of this topic but yours is the best with all the explanation and different types of systems. ❤ Much love from Turkiye!
Thank you so much for the kind words!
I live in Peru and pay $370 for a plastic septic tank that works very well. They call it a biodigestor. I can buy those plastic barrels for $30 a piece so this would save me money for an economy job
Great simple system...Too many channels don't explain things simply and make it sound complicated...As septic systems are basically a simple process...One thing you could do is run a 4" line into first barrel so you can have a access line to pump the solids ...You also could wrap the two drain barrels with non woven fabric before backfilling and place some gravel around the base of the last two barrels...and lay fabric over the gravel then backfill
My friend has a similar system on his land but on a bigger scale and he is very happy with it 😊 thanks for sharing
I did the same thing on a cabin. I built for my son. Used 4 tanks. 2 were for solids. One feeds into the other. Then that 2nd solid tank feeds into 2 drain field tanks drilled with holes and filled with crushed stone.
My deceased uncle did similar in Oklahoma decades ago, still going strong for a single person/couple living in an old house. Never been pumped either.
A better way to do this is to use blue barrels with removable lids and bands. This guy used an excavator whereas I used a hand shovel. I used 4 barrels and 2 twenty foot leech lines. Trenches and pit, was done by hand and with removable lids, connections were a snap! All told the digging, fitment, and backfill took about 2 months. Sure beats pooping in 13 gallon trash bags!
Brother I love all of your work and your videos showing more cheap and efficient ways on dyi septic systems. I am buying 10 acres off grid and will definitely be utilizing some of your methods. Your vids definitely help people. The time is rapidly approaching where people will have a choice to go off grid or be a slave. Thanks for all of the help
I did a similar thing for my camper, I lived in it for a bit when covid hit. But I had 4 barrels in a square pattern, all dumping across to each other. But all of my barrels had holes, and I had probably 200’ of pipe coming out into a makeshift leech field, added this part. I dig a hole that left 24” around the entire collage and I buried the entire thing with gravel not dirt except the top 4-6”
like my grandpa always said what they don't know won't hurt them
Watching in from Fiji...We do these kinds of Septic Tank Procedure. It saves us alotta money as we have plastic barrels scattered around and is put to good use
Vinaka 👌🏽
Excellent video my friend! Thanks for sharing 🙏🏻 I too am in TN and this method will be perfect for my situation! 🤌🏼
Backfill them last two barrels with some stone and it'll drain much better that's a nice setup you got there
Hilarious and really enjoyed. Very educative. With love from Zambia
I love the logical attention this man pays and the way he speaks when appointing logic.
Haaa? 🤣
Screw the codes. Screw them. All they are there for is so the government or some rich ceo can make a little extra scratch.
Nice job loved the way you laid it out.
Thank you so much may need your advice more in the near future
Very helpful video. I am about to buy a travel trailer to put on my farm out in rural Texas. I have been looking for a septic solution and your system fits the bill. Thank you for taking the time to put this video together-- and thanks for the clarification on the 3-1/4" hole--that was the only thing that didnt make any sense and I didnt see your correction until i decided to comment. Thanks again!
Thank you
Thank you for this informative Video! My Parents’ Cabin might just have to make use of your idea. ✌🏻😎
Im glad i found this video. Im fixing to build about the same thing. Im thinking maybe those big ibc plastic tanks but seeing the barrel deal might be better
Thank you so much! Really appreciate your awesome knowledge.
Although I would prefer an aerobic system I love this idea as it requires less maintenance (no additional energy required) 2 things to consider Tow barrels for the first section ( greatly increased capacity) Instead of a grinder which is expensive and requires power You might consider using Bidets which eliminate the need for TP. Thanks so much for this video. OH BTW Important not mentioned please do a perc test to determine if the soil has the capacity to leach effluent. Too much clay in the soil will greatly affect the system and it can fill up fast.
Great details for the beginners going off-grid.
I was raised in the Florida Everglades and Dad used a similar system with steel barrels. Worked for 5 years till we moved away.
Head's up on a few things I've learned about lately;
Put some live yeast into the first barrel to activate the solid's breakdown faster and NEVER use harsh chemicals to clean the toilet with which will stop this process. Use natural soap, biodegradable, nontoxic cleaners.
SIMPLE GREEN is my choice.
Also to prevent roots from growing into the system you can use a copper mesh wire around the barrels, a little costly but saves on digging again or building another system.
I liked the other comments about using tomatoes and maggot infested critters. Haven't tried it yet but I will keep those in mind.
I Also use a small odor controlled trash can next to my toilet for after doing my paperwork, since I prefer a thicker paper that would plug up most RV systems, then I burn that every night before bed along with the other paper/wood/cardboard trash. I compost my biodegradables and any meat scraps go to the cat, dog and what ever stray creatures come along after they are done.
Thanks
A lot of people had these systems where I grew up. They were all two barrel systems made from the steel drums and 50’ of field line. They didn’t perforate the second barrel. The main problems people had with them was rusting out and root masses inside around where the pipe went in or out. This system shouldn’t have any problems.
One of the better hillbilly septic systems that I've seen.
We grew up with an out house. It had a shower and everything! You have to cover the leavings with dirt when you move it.
i grew up where most people had systems like this and sadly some ran it off in the ditch or creek instead.. this is a much better option and does work
I have used these before but I cut them lengthwise, remove the top and lay them end to end with the ends overlapping. It's very strong and will not compress underground. The end effect is the plastic half drums end up forming a long arch. The structure is not unlike the leaching chambers that a lot of people use in place of the older leach line systems that tend to clog with roots on occasion. Of course this would never go in a big city such as say, San Francisco. Cities like San Francisco have highly technical and ridged building codes. No way can you just throw up a makeshift shelter there and just shit in the streets. There would be human fecies all over the town and eventually medieval disease would start to spread. That's why big cities have these codes to protect public health.
I rather think it's ashamed urban areas don't allow certain citizens to enjoy primitive camping on city sidewalks.
They could perform valuable municipal services like picking up trash, making commuters' windshield sparkle, keeping on the lookout for and notifying authorities about "shady" characters and most importantly beautifying our underpasses with folk art.
@@maxi-me It is a shame indeed. Maybe in the future though we can have a society that allows that and we can all reap the benefits.
Oh wait. The homeless people in San Francisco are already shitting in the streets. Have you not heard. They have a shit avoiding map you can purchase to try not to step in it.
I see what you did there..... Well played sir. 😂
TY. I’m adding a small home & will be using this. I originally thinking 2 barrels but 3 is better. NE TN here too. I will add a cloth around the 2nd & 3rd barrels. I alrdy had to fix my main septic to the house cause of roots clogging the main outlet line. Easy fix with a backhoe
Well done.
Thanks.
People don't understand how important sanitation is.
"people don't understand how important sanitation is"? What people exactly?
put crushed stone, encapsulated in filter fabric, around the leaching barrels so the stone doesn't get choked up with dirt and reduce its ability to disperse / infiltrate the liquids.
Nice idea but I would be concerned about the soil compressong the barrels;but maybe starting out with full (H2O) ma prevent crushing.
My only advise is, if you can route grey water (wash water, soaps, detergents, clorox, any bacteria killing substance) away from the first digester and onto a fourth tank (grey water only barrel) that would be good. If you dont kill off the bacteria digesting the waste you wont have solids building up.
Your only expense would be the extra PVC you'd have to by but it beats the cost of a honey dipper truv coming to pump ot the system
Great video my friend many thanks from n Ireland 🤝
hey i like this guys attitude! hell yeah great video! thanks!
I did this for my grey water from the washer I put in the garage, cheaper then hooking it to the main septic, and easier.
If you place large rocks around the outside of the blue cans it gives a leach system then a plastic film can be placed over the hole supported by the rocks. Cover this film with a few inches of dirt and you have a leach system that won't collapse inward and with the dirt over it no oder..
Great video my friend thanks for the information
good man--you helped many people in need r
I love this video...from Mizoram, India
*I've been pondering the idea of embarking on a rain harvesting project lately. The prospect of harnessing nature's gift, rainwater, for my yard has me truly excited. I can't help but wonder: do you think this concept would align perfectly with my specific needs and situation? 🌧💧🍃*
Love this, but could you show how the final product looks, like after all filled in and the attaching of the toilet, etc. Thank you
Very nice job. I think it even may be a little over kill 😊. My question to you is how do you get a 3” pipe though a 1” and a 1/4”hole 🤔. I’m a retired master plumber that’s a good trick 😊. After watching the hole video I see you are using the second barrels for a leach line 😊. I like the idea, I think I would like to have more than one barrel for the solids :-). I’ve had a lot of septics pumped over the years and a small septic will fill up pretty quickly 😢.
If your really a retired Master Plumber then you understand Scooter that it’s no problem to squeeze a 3” fitting into an 1 1/4” hole with the right amount of plumbers lube brother 😂
Great, video. I'm no Ukrainian but I know ingenuity when I see it.
Good DIY off grid septic sir!
Thank you that is a great ideal!
Cleverly done!
In some places, like a few Arizona counties, these systems ARE within code. I've seen these types of system be permitted and passed by inspectors.
Awesome info thank you!!!
The law to live ..... Well said - great vid 👍 - new sub - GOD bless from KY
Pieces of Trex fake wood would be great for capping the two barrels with the doors. Or Coroplast plastic sheeting.
Thanks for the video this is awesome buddy thanjsnfornyour time and knowledge on it
Yup...this is what i needed!!! Ty
You're welcome
I built a similar system and the run off is cleaner (yes, tested) than my original (to NC code) system.
I filter through the three "chambers", through a screen "catch" than out to my leach field
Thanks I have been thinking about using barrels for a septic system. I wasn't sure about the best way to make it work . I was going to use two barrels and 5 or 10 gallon bucket for a junction box drain field ? 3 and like you're and third barrel 3 drain fields . I have wet land here in GA It's 1 just for temporary . Camper that is being remolding into a tiny house to live in while I'm remodeling on the main two homes and building tiny houses on the land . The main house has a septic system in the back yard but bought the place camper was in front yard 50 ft + away house , camper was in bad shape to move it but still can live in part of it while remolding , I needed a septic system. But the water table is a few feet, digging 1 or 2 ft down the water starts filling in the hole . The well pump is 20 ft and 8 or 10 hit water . Question is the barrel septic system works for a temporary 3 to 6 month on wet land? And what the best way I build system to work where I wouldn't have to pump solids out of the septic system ?
I appreciate your disclaimer. Some people need rules made by people not the actual laws of nature, which this follows
It must be Winter time because I don't see any flies .😁 There is NO smell worse than pumping out a porta potty or septic tank , when the two are churned together .
I love your videos
Thanks
So i tried to use a plastic barrel like this and the soil pressed the sides of the tank in. I am going to try wrapping the barrel with wire fencing, then use sprayfoam to cover the wire with about 3 inches of polyfoam. I'm hoping the strength of the plastic will be as good as putting cement around the barrel. If the sprayfoam doesn't work then cement will have to be put around the barrels.
The other thing i did with my barrels was to cut off the bottom of another barrel and place the top half over the tank barrel. I cut the top out of the barrel half then i had a service space over the tank barrel.
Also I'm going to put a dirty water pump in the tank to pump out the sludge once a month so it can digest better.
Awesome. Thanks for the video.
Interesting to see other systems than I am usually installing (which is factory manufactured systems in Northern Europe). This is almost a 3-chamber system, which is good, even if not according to US code regulations. However, I would only drill holes in the third barrell. And T-connections are probably not needed for the ingoing connections in the 2nd and 3rd barrel. But it is not bad to have it. Still, the outgoing water might need some more infiltration area than this, depending on the use of the septic system. A gravel field is usually used, but there are cubes made of plastic netting that reduces the infiltration area needed. Perhaps something similar can be used for this. With these modifications you might get a system that actually is quite efficient compared to regulatory approved systems with little risk of contaminating drinking water sources.
Thanks
Explain those "cubes" more lol. 😂
@@theappalachianamerican8607"soakaway crates."
YES I love your video!! Thank you. Any concerns with the dirt plugging the holes? Would putting a layer of 1-2" gravel be if benefit?
put 3/4" crushed stone from the bottom to the top of the pipes, encapsulated in filter fabric, around the leaching barrels so the leaching holes and the stone doesn't get choked up with dirt and reduce its ability to disperse / infiltrate the liquids.
What a great old Man!
My grandparents had this on their farm in Missouri in the 50's. Only problems ever were in the summer when people would come to visit and put TP in the toilet. Grandpa would have to go unclog the pipe going to the barnyard. We all knew better: TP went in the trash can.
If you use a cloth to wash & wipe is even better.
Just use three sea shells like normal people.
@@jameskane4600 corn cobs
I have built two of these.not quite this fancy, but they worked fine
What do you put in the bottom of the hole? Sand small stones. Liquid will be draining out of the hole from the second and third barrels.
Awesome video, thanks
Put a half gallon of buttermilk in it once a month, it will run from now on, the bacteria in the buttermilk will feast on the solids! Don’t forget to put a vent pipe somewhere In line.
Thank you trying to help daughter get into tiny house. Going to just run toilet into tank all other gray water into woods. Should last a lifetime. Again thank you.
Loved the video. Question: how do you pump the solids fromt he first barrel?
Nice video about the 3-barrel septic system. My question is: Can one empty the first barrel when the system gets full over time?
I’d say that is why he put the door on it. There really wouldn’t be much reason for access to the first 2 barrels. Only reason I could think of is maybe if your ex came over asking for a drink!!!!!!! 😂😂😂😂😂😂
I enjoy watching these videos with off-the-grid septic systems maybe you can send me a parts list that's where I get confused
Or you can do like I did. Watched the video. Decided that this is what I want to do. Rewatched the video and studied his design. Lol… I found myself typing out the items used…. 🤦🏻♂️! Look man if you like the design, rewatch and pause. Look. Write. Unpause. Watch. Pause. Write. Unpause. Etc!
Pretty simple,
3 55gallon plastic barrels,
2 3in T fittings
1 3in coupler
1 3in 90
2 3in 45s
3in pvc pipe
2 4in hinges
2 ball strikes
Personally, I would add 3in perforated pipe and drain socks for the leach field and wrap the perforated drums with filter fabric and put pea gravel or 5/8 minus around everything that needs drainage. Along with filter fabric above and below the barrels...
Thank you for sharing 🎉❤
Thank you, I appreciate you; be well and be safe.
🙌🏽💚🙌🏽 Righteous Guidance, Protection, Peace, Blessings, Favours & Success 🙌🏽💚🙌🏽
Putting one in tomorrow! Thank you for sharing with us green horns.
How did yours turn out?
@@j.b.5691 Awesome! It took me a while to find the barrels and the 4 inch pipe was $35 for 5ft but it works great.
Update? @Chad Rose
@@x_blademasterc.o.c.9845 It went off without a hitch and it works great,
I didn't know you could do that. You're genius
After 7 months how has it been going? Do you recommend any alterations? Jim in California
Nice work, loveit
Aloha Appalachian American: Stan here in Maui I am getting ready to install your 3 barrels septic system this Saturday..I like your design very much thanks for putting it on Utube..I have two questions: I am planning to fill the area around the barrels to about 20" with 1 1/4" gravel (I drilled 1" holes in barrels 2 and 3) and then I am thinking off putting window screening on top of the gravel and then top off the gravel level to the surface with a mixture of excavated soil and gravel. that would be about 20" on top of the gravel/screening..My thought is that the screening would slow or stop dirt from above from entering the weeping field..What do you think about this idea? Stan
Just need clarity. When you say drop the barrel are you actually dropping the barrel down about an inch or just the inlets and outlets? In your reckoning, when would the first barrel need to be cleared? Two people will be using this. What size are these barrels? Litre wise.
Very cool! How could the user pump it without relying on a company? What would you do with the solids?
I have land in Costilla CO, where land is cheap, undeveloped and rural and specifically designed for off grid living and there is no specific code for a septic as long as it works and does not leak waste, so there are pleanty of places in the US where code does not exist, specifically in rural undeveloped land designed for off grid living.
what part of Colorado is this? I am interested in off-grid living.
You can't even fart without a permit in Castilla County. Had a buddy that had some land in Trinchera Ranch. His boys own it now. But when he told the county govt he was going to build an "off grid" structure, they told him he would have to build a 1500g septic system. Which he would have had to get a permit for. His argument was that he only spends about 2 days at a time, 4 or 5 times a year on his own land. So in his eyes, that kind of "policing" was bullshit. So, his plan was to go underground with the structure. Sadly he never got around to it before he passed away. Castilla County is the poorest county in the entire state and they will get any last cent from you that they think they can.
check out bio filter, for the discharge, will discharge clean water to code. allowing to not have holes and discharge sewage into ground,
Where can I find more info on this?
@@SSingh-nr8qz search The Benefits Behind Biofiltration for a Wastewater Treatment
Your tree roots will love you