Is this a valid source of fertiliser?

[Caithness Gardener]

Living as I do in the rural idyll we are not connected to the mains sewage system. In planning a polytunnel I am having to be very careful in siting it away from the access covers to the septic tank. It occurs to me that this proximity might be fortuitous and the run off from the septic tank might be a useful source of nutrients.

The germans are not so prudish and my father recalls one hotel using waste for its garden some 40 years ago! The centre for alternative technology in Wales blatantly uses 40 gallon drums and a funnel as the gents urinal - are we just too squeemish?

[sewer rat]

Hi Caithness gardener
Just joined the forum and yours was first post I viewed - somewhat fortuitous in that you are probably closer to my home than most of the forum members, me living in E. Ross., and secondly, as my handle might suggest, i am fairly knowledgeable in the area of septic tanks etc.
First off, the run off from your septic tank should be going through a soakaway or filter mound of some description and the resulting water fromthat is considered clean enough by SEPA to re-enter water courses. Therefore to gain any advantage at all, your polytunnel would theoretically have to be sited between the tank and the soakaway. Secondly, between the tank and the soakaway, it should be running through a pipe that should not permit it to seep it into the surrounding soil. However, what I have found in practise is that the grass is usually greener, lusher, thicker both between the tank and soakaway but especially on the downside or run-off side of the soakaway.
If these areas are suitable for you to site your polytunnel, go ahead. You may or may not gain an advantage, though how you would determine just how much, I'm not sure. All I can say is please do not place your polytunnel over the route of the pipes, or in a position where it makes it awkward for the tanker to access your tank. If your polytunnel is full of veg and your sewage system fails for some reason, you do not want the likes of me coming in and digging up your veg to get to a broken or blocked pipe.
Sorry if this is a bit long winded but hope it helps.
Cheers
Rat

[Caithness Gardener]

Rodding

I am very familiar with the layout of the pipes as my daughter flushed a complete toilet roll down the pies when we first moved in. I now own a 20m rod in 1m sections and clear blockages every 4 months or so.

I have been totally unable to obtain any advice on the care and maintenance of septic tanks. We have been in the house some 4 years and have not needed to have the septic tank emptied.

I was interested to read that you should put "plenty of urine" on a compost heap to assist its breakdown at this time of the year.

Think we could keep this thread running.

[sewer rat]

If your tank is a moulded plastic type, you could try looking at the product brochures at www.balmoral-group.com/tanks. These are one of the biggest suppliers in our area and each tank comes with an instruction pack for both the installer and the user. Alternatively, you could try the SEPA website or contact the local office for advice. Bit concerned about blockages every 4 months !!
Although I have never tried it myself, a friend of mine regularly empties his bladder into his compost - much to the disgust of his family !
Cheers
Rat

[dni_dave]

RHS recommendations

A friend looked in her encylopedia from the RHS (sorry but I cannot remember the full title) and it does indeed recommend that you urinate on the compost heap.

As my heap faces the in laws I have yet to pluck up the courage to try this out.

I have heard that it is possible to compost part of babies nappies (not the Pampers sort but the cloth with lining ones) but as I'm yet to be blessed with kids I haven't looked much further into this.

Perhaps you could build a composting toilet out in the corner of the plot. You need 2 (side by side) to allow one to rot down while the other fills. This goes back many years. A friend has an old (not specific on the age) house that has a 20m by 20m walled garden, and in one of the walls is a double lavatory.

[Jaxom]

You also need losts of sawdust to put on top each time you go.

[andrewo]

Herbs

This sounds horrid but I have been told it works, next time you want to pee, do it on your perennial herbs. It supposedly reinvigorates them - don't know if this is true as human urine has ammonia in it. Does anyone know whether it does. Personally I couldn't do it as my herb patch is by the road in full view!

Andrewo

[Jaxom]

Liquid Gold:

just found this book on the internet or rather Amzazon. [I love the internet] Liquid Gold:The Lore and Logic of Using Urine to Grow Plants.
it says "Discover the delights of the urine-diverting composting toilet, the activists' urinal, and the urinal for women; find out about customs and rituals connected with urine, the science and technology of its use."
Liquid Gold:

Don't all order at once now ...... theres a queue here. no pushing in. that ones out of order. someones blocked it.
Jax

[Jaxom]

Composting Toilet

Another book to read when you have five uninterupted minutes.
"The Composting Toilet System Book: A Practical Guide to Choosing, Planning and Maintaining Composting Toilet Systems - A Water-saving, Pollution-preventing Wastewater Solution."
Composting Toilet

[Looloobowers]

Queer sense of Humour

Sorry all,

I have just had a moment of humour in reading all these posts. It was wondering how long it will take the graden centres to set up a Del Boy like spring water system (anyone remember?) with local wee water for sale

Oh my, maybe its time they came and took me away!!

Have fun this Christmas, you live longer if you laugh!

Looloo