Sample installation with TWO dry wells in series
Even with a gray water reuse system, you sometimes you might need to divert gray water away from your orchard or planter bed for simple disposal. Fruit trees, for instance, benefit from having their root systems go dry for a few days. Our dry wells make excellent leaching pits for gray water and full size septic systems alike. Gravel back fill around and under the dry well is not necessary, but will increase the drainage capacity and longevity of your leaching pit. One dry well with a foot of gravel under and around it will dispose of 200+ gallons per day in most soils. As with all of our products, we’ll work closely with you, providing toll-free consultation during construction! Please note that you should ALWAYS install a settling tank filter basin in-line before your leach field or run the risk of clogging it with grease and fats and filling with solids like hair and laundry lint. You can simply install a dry well, or two, for your washing machine and have direct input. Just keep in mind that all of that lint and grease is going to slowly build up, eventually clogging the first dry well the unfiltered gray water spills into. That is why you have to install at least two dry wells in series when not installing a filter basin settling tank (complete systems shown above).
Here’s a sample installation with TWO dry wells in series – bringing gray water in through the lid (at Sanitary “San” Tee fitting). The first dry well acts as a sediment catch basin, providing more clarified gray water to the next leach pit in series. Venting your leaching pit system is most highly recommended and also provides a handy 4 inch diameter pipe inspection/cleaning port. Oxygen keeps the greywater drainage pit dry and the soil around it much healthier. Freezing is rarely a problem with running water underground. You can always cap the vents in deep winter if need be, but eliminating the vent altogether is a classic design error.. Top loading (with vent) ensures maximum surge capacity for the dry well. We provide all of the fittings pictured with your kit (san tee, riser, coupler, vent, and geo textile fabric). Please note the geo textile fabric is included for installation above the gravel layer. This is necessary to extend the life of your leach field – the fabric keeps topsoil out of your gravel layer around the dry well.
I don’t know if your like me….can’t sit still, always looking for projects to do around the house or at the cabin. Making your home green offers a variety projects for just that kind of do it yourself handy person. whether its building your own solar assisted water heating system or learning to build your own solar panels, creati9ng a sustainable living lifestyle is always rewarding. It’s not just about saving money on the materials or the installation or even the monthly electric bills, all of which is real, but you get the opportunity to show your neighbors and friends, just how conscious you are of your share of the carbon footprint we all leave behind, yes a good example is set. You also, and this is big… have the opportunity to teach your kids and family responsibility on how they treat the environment and their surroundings. You can spend time with them learning how to build your own solar panels or wind power generator to create your own home solar power system and installing your creation with their help. What a great way to get to know your kids and your neighbors.