I’m working on building a cabin up north. It’s not that far up north, but based on the problems I’m having, clearly not far enough. Ok, back ground: The property has a bluff running through the center and this area is somewhat protective of their topography. For this reason, I’m not permitted to put a driveway in. However, that same topography has resulted in a ton of caves in the area. This is a problem with sanitary systems. Not that long ago several wells were contaminated because a septic field was discharging directly into a cave the wells were drawing from. As part of my building permit I was required to install a water based sanitary system. The getcha is that I can’t put a driveway in. Oh, and there is no electric at the road. I tried to argue for a non-water based system such as a privy or composting toilet, but they wouldn’t hear none of it. I ended up with a 800′ long ejector line to a holding tank. Problem solved? No.
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It seems my zoning permit requires me to have a well. The getcha is that I can’t put a driveway in! I’ve been chasing this around for a while now I believe I’m close to having the state approve a water reservoir. A water holding tank; aka cystern. Problem solved? No.
For every new residence constructed you are required to have a water “supply system” and the following fixtures: kitchen sink, lav, toilet and shower/tub. With the reservoir and no electricity, I’d rather have just a old fashioned hand pump. This is easily accomplished for the kitchen but I’m not sure how to make the toilet and shower work. I’d rather avoid a solar system because it just won’t be used enough and this is a deep forest and is always shaded. Any suggestions how to get a water supply system off grid without having pressurized water?
For a three season weekend cabin this has really gotten out of control.
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Replies
rain, filters, & gravity
Perhaps you could set up a rain collection system feeding a gravity based cistern. That should be able to serve your basic bathing, cleaning, and cooking needs. Maybe add portable water storage containers that have replaceable carbon based filters for your potable water.
Actually we had proposed a rainwater system, but the state didn't have rules in place to allow it. By the time the rules were drafted we had already installed the roof. Of course, we went with asphault and you can't have a rain water capture system off a asphault roof. Doh!
give 'em an inch and they'll take a mile.
More importantly, do they have rules in place that do NOT allow it? I don't think there are rules against building an irrigation system for your "garden".
Also, based on your apparent remote location, wouldn't it be more prudent to post NO TRESPASSING signs on your property and consider the notion of asking forgiveness rather than permission when it comes to serving your basic needs and excercising your property rights on your own land? Once you're finaled out, I wouldn't see the basis for any regular municiple house calls. If there is, then know that they makes some very basic plumbing valves that repurpose irrigation systems quickly and easily.
Thousands if not millions of homes down south with cisterns fed from asphalt shingle roofs. Who's making these rules??
i grew up about 1.5 hrs sw of Buenos Aires Argentina. Farm land in a thrid world country.
When I was fairly young we still had a tank over the house that fed the toilet and shower along with a few other things. We did have a pump that would fill the tank when below a certain level.
We had a old european style toilet with the tank about 5.5-6' off the floor mounted on the wall. The shower was a similar system, pull on a chain water came out and you froze your buns off.
Aside from something incredibly rudimentary like that and no power i dont know.
I have another bluff behind my cabin as well. If I put a tank on top of the bluff I'd get around 20psi of pressure. I'll have to pump the water up there, but that wouldn't be too hard to accomplish. But is 20psi enough? I believe it's the absolute minimum required to make a T&P valve function.
hand pump?
You can use a hand pump to pump into pressure. ie, have a standard setup; the water coming from a well or cistern, then the hand pump pumps in to and pressurizes the water bladder tank, the bladder tank feeds the domestic plumbing. Just like a standard well pump would.
The pump will pressurize the tank. 40, 50, 60psi. The problem is with a standard sized bladder tank you'll get short cycling. Meaning, you pressurize to 60psi but once you open the shower valve, you'll use up the pressurized water before you're done with the shower.
There are solar/battery powered options to "pump" the hand pump.
Not sure if that option fits your requirements though.
Since you can;t have a driveway, just install a really wide sidewalk from the road to the house.
semantic tools of the trade
Mongo wrote:
Since you can;t have a driveway, just install a really wide sidewalk from the road to the house.
Love it. Love it. Love it. Now this is a man that knows how to think outside the tool box. Mongo, you've just rejuvenated my hope for combating our downward spiraling idiocracy.
walk up drive
Mongo wrote:
Since you can;t have a driveway, just install a really wide sidewalk from the road to the house.
Actually, that's exactly what we did. made sure the "walk" was a width that was too narrow for a car and that the parking area was too wide. It's just the right size for us to run atv's on. The planner wrote a letter warning us to never "improve" our walk way. What helped is that they never defined "driveway" in their zoning ordinance. Of course, this also means it's too narrow to get a drill rig down. This whole project has been obsticals thrown up by various factions of government and me trying to find innovative methods to work around the problem. It's a rather tyring process, but I understand that it's easier for a government official to be difficult than reasonable.
Could you please explain why driveways are not allowed? Did you know this when you purchased the property or was the rule enacted subsequent to your purchase?
The rule was enacted after purchase as a condition they placed upon the property. The rules that I've been required to play by have changed several times. Once for the better, once for the worse. The original intention was for a tiny 250sqft dry cabin with a outhouse and it's grown into something closer to a house.
Have you determined who you need to bribe to make the problems go away?
I would pressurize the water with a recreational vehicle 12v type system.
Plumbing problem
Find yorself an ol motorhome that has a large tank and 12 volt pump that runs off a battery, and use those parts. Mine had plenty of pressure for shower and the toilet was no problem either. Search camping world and you will find all sorts of solutions for water. Septic is tougher how about burying a tank by the road with a pipe from the house. When the tank is full call a company and they will pump it out. If you use biodegradable soaps you can use the grey water from your shower and sink to irrigate your garden. THat way you would be able to go for long periods between tank pumpouts.