Living off the grid can be an extremely enriching and rewarding experience. Each day there are physically demanding yet fulfilling tasks to complete. Mucking horse stalls and heading to the barn before sunrise to milk the cow are not glamorous chores, but such mundane and messy duties are part of providing healthy food for the family while being a good steward of the environment.

But the picturesque scene of life on a rural homestead will not be quite so lovely unless setting up a proper sanitation system is tackled correctly and maintained steadily.

When planning the move to an off-the-grid locale or searching for the perfect retreat, factor in the feasibility of establishing a fully-functional sanitation system at the property building site long before daydreaming about how tasty organic crops will be come fall. Planning an off-the-grid sanitation system would definitely fall under the heading of “boring grown-up stuff.” That is the phrase I often use when my husband asks if I have tackled some tedious paperwork or have updated my mileage on the tax template he made for me.

The boring grown-up stuff, though, is unfortunately an integral aspect to establishing a successful homestead. The land might boast enriched soil, look like a backdrop for a Norman Rockwell painting, and have the cutest ducks floating on the pond, but all those attributes will soon fall to ruin if a sanitation system fails. Water contamination can ruin the family’s drinking water, creeks and streams used for livestock watering, and destroy all the organic seeds growing in the field.

Septic System

One of the best ways involves installing a septic system. Today, creating such a system in some towns, even many rural ones, is illegal. Before purchasing a septic tank from a supplier, make sure that installing one will not result in hefty fines and even possible criminal charges in some regions.

A septic system is basically a massive metal tank that allows for the collection and release of wastewater. Bacteria inside the septic tank breaks down the waste and causes it to naturally separate into a big layer of scum on the top of the waste. Beneath the layer of scum is a liquid layer and a bottom layer of sludge. As wastewater flows into the septic tanks, liquid inside flows out in sections of pipe buried underground that ultimately drains into a field……more here