Sewers
does anyone know about sewer lagoons?
I am building a home in central missouri outside any city limits. I am finding out that all of the people around here have lagoons for there sewer instead of septic tanks. There is no public sewer system out here. My question does anyone know if these are safe and how to build one. My husband and I are building 98% of this house ourselves.
Public Comments
- I have never heard of a sewer lagoon. Even though the property is outside the city, it is in a County and probably has regulations you will need to meet. Call the County Health Department.
- I have installed septic systems for years, I also live in Mo and know most of the codes, the codes do change from county to county a little, but for the most part they all have the same rules. The bad part is that you and your husband will not be able to install the lagoon yourself, a county licensed installer will have to do it. If you call around to machine operators they call tell you who can do it, and the county has a list of licensed installers. First off they will have to come out and dig a "test pit" a test pit will be about 3' wide and 4' deep. Then a soil scientist will come out and test the soil and tell you whether you came have a lagoon and what kind of system that you can use. Check with your home owners insurance and see if they will cover you home with a lagoon, some insurance company's will not, and if they do they may have alot of requirements that you will have to meet. If you try and sell the home, some Realtor brokers, will not sell one with a lagoon. Bottom line is Lagoons are old technology and are not recommended, they are high matanice( have to keep all of the leaves cleaned out), can be dangerous, and are not very biologically friendly But to sum up the answer, even if your in the county you can not install it. If you get caught trying to with out a license you can get in big trouble. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewage_treatment
- Sewer lagoons, wow! I did not know those were still in use or even allowed. Like the pro says, do not consider installing a sewer lagoon. Septic tank system is your best and brightest option.
