permaculture

[Walt Dennig <edennig@pacbell.net>]

Here's a link to a useful .pdf file on mound systems (my local 
Environmental Planning office refers to them as "Wisconsin Mound Systems" 
because they were developed there.)  They are no longer approved here 
because there are apparently better and less costly alternatives.  I didn't 
explore the alternatives.

At 06:39 AM 12/8/2005, you wrote:
> Walt Dennig wrote:
> There are also near-surface and surface systems for leach
> fields  http://www.infiltratorsystems.com/ .  There is a mound system that
> a friend of mine had approved in the coastal mountains of California.
>
> Hi again....
>
> The mound system septic way of dealing with effluent is replacing the 
> common septic tank and seep field systems up here.  The cost, on average 
> is between $8000-$11,000.(up here anyway)  This cost is prohibitive to so 
> many folks...that they tend to continue using septic fields that (in some 
> cases) are literally dumping raw sewage into the lakes.  These old systems 
> are "grandfathered" and unless their neighbor reports the failing 
> system...they continue to dump....
>
>  With so much new building and development up here..."up",  as in mound 
> system, is the only way to go with treatment systems....(so stated by my 
> DNR friend).
>
> I have a composting toilet in my store...a SunMar..(we love it)..it was 
> approved by my county zoning folks and blessed with a "privy permit".  I 
> was the first business in the county to have one approved...I did all the 
> research and had to make a presentation to the DNR and county zoning board 
> to get the thing approved...that's when I met all my "contacts".  It was a 
> very hard sell....anything "new" is.  I can hear the eyes rolling out 
> there...but this area is prolly 10 years behind all of you.
>
> Having that privy approved was the only way I could open my 
> business...since the building doesn't have water of septic and the cost of 
> adding those items (if even physically possible) would have added $40,000 
> to my opening costs...which at the time were a little over $10,000.  I use 
> the composting toilet as an education tool. I've even invited people to 
> come and witness the emptying of the final composting tray. They are 
> always amazed at the wonderful compost that is the by product of our potty.
>
> I appreciate all the good links and info.  Maybe all you guys and gals out 
> there should start targeting State and Fed Natural Resources conferences 
> with your programs.  It's seems to me, that no one is approaching these 
> folks in my  area...I'm just one person..and am running the risk of 
> "bothering them" to the point where they won't talk to me anymore.  They 
> believe themselves on the "bleeding edge" of environmental issues...and 
> become indignant with my suggestions...(after all...they have the 
> recourses of U of WI at Madison and Stevens Point)...but...one NR person I 
> used the word "permaculture" with...hadn't ever heard of 
> it....yikes...love and peace...lynnann
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