Like your culinary water – a rural home is often on a septic system – making you your own sewage company. This guide will review things to keep in mind when designing and installing cabin septic systems. We have another guide on how to maintain and care for cabin septic systems.

Septic System Design

There are a myriad of septic systems out there and local jurisdictions have a lot of say about what types of systems can be installed – and where. Because of that, we won’t cover the systems themselves but considerations that you should make that will influence other aspects of your build.

If you’re on a septic system, there’s a good chance you’re also on a well. That means everything you put on the ground or down the drain is eventually going to end up in your well.

• Review our recommendations on water filtration – and why.
• Review our guide on septic system upkeep on what:
  • Can and can’t go down the drains and toilets
  • Choosing appropriate plumbing fixtures
  • Drainfield do’s and don’ts
• Avoid landscaping that requires the use of fertilizers. Herbicides and pesticides should also be avoided.

Septic System Installation

There isn’t much unique about the septic installation in rural areas. The biggest are:

• Ensure that you install a locate wire with your waste line. This will make finding it later much easier. Often this is overlooked since it’s not likely required and a sewer company isn’t involved.
• Plan your vent lines so that you only have one penetration in the roof. For more, review our roofing guidelines.

If you’re in a cold climate, there are also a few things you might want to do a bit differently.

• Meet or better yet exceed frost depths for waste lines.
• Run waste lines in a place where (1) they won’t be driven over (like a driveway) and (2) won’t be cleared of snow (snow is an excellent insulator).