Septic Tank & Drain Lines vs Coop Run Design

[Quailsong]

Thank you, psychoroo. Every little bit helps.

 

[aart]

What is WETT? I just realized you're in Canada.

 

[Quailsong]

What is WETT? I just realized you're in Canada.

I believe it stands for "Wood Energy Transfer Technology" - WETT Inspectors specifically deal w/ any wood burning stoves/fireplaces & making sure they're save & good to go. The new house has a fireplace in the basement, not very nice-looking though, might never be used while we're there. But it does need a WETT inspection or we won't be able to get the house insured for fire or whatever.

We can also burn wood outside in a moveable fire-stove (which doesn't need inspection, naturally) so that's probably what I'll do to get my free wood ash...and toasted marshmallows. I'd rather be outside anyways than cooped up in a basement burning wood, although I may change my mind come winter.

And I do apologize for flinging fancy acronyms about. I'm still learning the ropes here on what's common knowledge/jargon with houses & what might not be, esp as it varies by country. Tons more research needed!

 

[yoyosma]

This thread caught my attention! On our quarter-acre (although rural) lot, the only place we could find for our enclosed chicken run- the one attached to their night coop- was right smack over the septic tank pump-out access. We only need to get it pumped every 3 years or so, and next time we do, it's "clean out the ol' run really well!" time. We're probably the only people who need to clean up before the septic tank pump-out guys come over.
I had it pumped right before we got our chicks in April 2012, and the guys and I hung around and talked chickens while they pumped! So that was fun.
I put landscaping fabric over the tank tops, and then about 12 inches of wood chips. I scrape the top 3-4 inches off every 4 months or so and put it in the compost, then put fresh chips on top. Necessity is the mother of invention, and all that.
I put an electric poultry fence around the drainfield,. The 14 chickens and 4 ducks have that to free range on, and also have part of the backyard too, for during the day. So far, I've be able to keep them from slaughtering all of the grass on the leach field. The geese were pretty hard on it, though. (They moved to a bigger farm in the country.)
Congratulations to Quailsong on becoming a homeowner- best thing we ever did. 25 years later, my husband says (a bit ruefully?) that it's his life's work.... but, we do have people walking by on the road calling compliments to us all the time- so we are doing something right, or at least pretty....

 

[Quailsong]

Yoyosma, that sounds like a wonderful adaptation to a very unsightly problem. And thank you for the congrats. Unfortunately, the previous owners were not very truthful with us about some things. So we're finding stuff out the hard way this week, but it's our home - so we don't mind working towards making it better. If that makes sense (I'm sure you understand, Yoyosma).

Back to the OT, seems the septic I have is a confirmed old style w/ no drain lines, just a drain straight down under it. It's no longer a possible health issue so I'm glad. I'm toying with ideas of how to cover it for now. It has to be emptied once a year, every mid-summer. They leave a 5' diameter patch of sand every year when they try to find it.

I'm thinking I may gently dig to find the spout, make a marker for it, put a grassy rug over the area, and then add a working faux/light fountain (made of styrofoam) & potted plants w/ a bench nearby. It will make it attractive enough & easy to move. The other idea was a pond, but I couldn't imagine myself draining it mid-summer w/ fish & plants in it.