# Septic systems alternatives? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 28, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-systems-alternatives/659563 "2013-05-28T18:14:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-systems-alternatives/659563/1 "2013-05-28T18:14:46Z")
Anybody use a different system when the land does not perc? I know there are other ways but I don’t know how good they are or how expensive. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-systems-alternatives/659563/2 "2013-05-28T18:35:56Z")
A friend of mine has property that wouldn’t pass for septic. He built a small cabin with a holding tank. He gets the tank pumped a few times a year. If he actually lived there, he’d have to get the tank pumped monthly. ---
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-systems-alternatives/659563/3 "2013-05-28T18:39:28Z")
Lagoon ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-systems-alternatives/659563/4 "2013-05-28T18:45:36Z")
[Sand mound.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mound_system) ---
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [May 28, 2013, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-systems-alternatives/659563/5 "2013-05-28T18:48:15Z")
composting toilets might be allowed in areas that don’t perk. lagoons are used in areas that don’t perk. mound septic systems are used in areas that don’t perk at an acceptable amount. your government agencies (natural resources at a state level and zoning at a county level) will have information on what is allowed and permits needed. you might be able get an exception made for your individual case stating what you would be required to do if you couldn’t fit in the general situations and alternatives. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-systems-alternatives/659563/6 "2013-05-29T00:55:48Z")
Sand mounds are required in my county (the land around here doesn’t perc well). If you are putting a septic system in or doing major repairs to an old one you don’t have a choice. Sand mound systems aren’t exactly cheap, btw. Our system worked well except for the times when lightning decided to fry the pump. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-systems-alternatives/659563/7 "2013-05-29T02:43:13Z")
Electric or gas toilets. These are used in RVs and remote locations lacking water. But they’ll do the job if you have no septic system. [Incinolet](http://incinolet.com/) has been around for years. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2013, 4:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/septic-systems-alternatives/659563/8 "2013-05-29T04:14:06Z")
[Here](http://buzzardsbay.org/etimain.htm) is a link to the Massachusetts Alternative Septic System Test Center, including the results of tests they’ve done on various systems.