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  • From: Road's End Farm <organic87 AT frontiernet.net>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Packing Room drain and grey water question
  • Date: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 08:34:00 -0400

I've been advised by the local code enforcement officer that in this area wash water from produce can just be run out into the fields.

Contractor and I discussed a dry well system for proposed small new packing shed, but we'll probably just run it out into a low area in adjacent field, from which it can filter out into an existing intermittent waterway.

Water from my outdoor washstand (which will still be doing most of the job) currently runs off and mostly winds up watering part of my lawn (which doesn't get watered, otherwise.)

I'm most of the way up a hill, there's plenty of absorption room in the fields between my buildings and the nearest neighbor and also between buildings and bodies of water, and my operation is small scale, so this doesn't cause any problems. In addition to checking with local authorities, I'd consider your particular site considerations and size of operations, to make sure you don't mess up either a neighbor's drainage or any adjacent watercourses.


-- Rivka; Finger Lakes NY, Zone 6A now I think
Fresh-market organic produce, small scale


On Jul 22, 2014, at 6:48 AM, Andy Fellenz wrote:

I put a slat drain like you are describing in my packshed and it works well.  Most of the soil in the water settles out into the slat drain and can be scooped out.  I am in the process of improving the connection to the drain tile which carries the water away and when I do, I'll add a trap at this point to get most of the remaining soil.    

In my area, Soil & Water which is responsible for leach fields and septic, told me that I do not need to run my rinse water through the septic system.  Check with your town/county what the rules are in your area as you may be required to run all water through your septic system.  

Andy







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