Septic system with worms

[Judy in IN]

Well, I called the health department in my county to see how they felt about my using an old, abandoned tank for the worms.

The lady called me back promptly, and told me that all old septic tanks were supposed to be filled with pea gravel and collapsed. So much for big brother's opinion.

So now that I've found what the county thinks, methinks I'll forget about them. They are concerned about small children falling into the tank. If the thing is covered, I don't see a problem, and there are no small children here or at my neighbors....

[Jay Blair]

Judy,

How about this for consideration? Erect a garden shed over the tank. Build one of lumber or even purchase one of the sheet metal Sears varieties for a few hundred bucks.

This way the worm tank is contained, sheltered from temp extremes, area around the tank could be utilized for tool storage or testing lab stations and the doors can be locked preventing access by children.

After all aren't municipal sewage plants behind fencing and in buildings?

If a containment building is too extravagant, a $120 T post and stock wire fence with barbed wire strand above the 6 foot fence fabric would suffice.

[Judy in IN]

Jay,
What a great idea! Her response wasn't slowing me down, but I want to contact a septic installer to find out about removing the top and making a cover/door for it. BUT, if I went with the shed idea, I wouldn't even have to worry about that--plus, it would be protected from spring and fall rains to boot!

Thanks for the idea!

[Jay Blair]

Glad I could be of help. I he;ped a guy design a windrow auto feeder with digestortanks in a building a couple years ago.