Hello all- congratulations on a wonderful board. I have been lurking here for a couple of weeks now and am astounded by the valuable info and support you have for each other. No other board compares! I have 10 acres on the side of a mountain in western NC. The folks at the top have built and there is electricity at the road. There is a spring that develops high up on the property that will hopefully provide flow for hydroelectric. My question is relating to composting toilets and greywater systems. I would like to use both, if possible, but especially a greywater disposal system for shower and washing machine water. I am curious to know if and how any of you have dealt with the necessary inspections or if you have received approval in advance to use either of these. Responses from those in NC (especially Swain County!) greatly appreciated. Jack

-- jack (atlantajack@yahoo.com), October 31, 2000

Answers

I know where I live,,mich, that washingmachines do not have to go into the waste system. Find a builder or an inspector and ask. Every place has their own rules

-- STAN (sopal@net-port.com), October 31, 2000.

Try the National Small Flows Clearinghouse at West Virginia University. They have a web site. And do a search on greywater.

jd

-- jd (jw_hsv@yahoo.com), October 31, 2000.

There is a really good site called "www.greywater.com" it goes into detail about the ups and downs of greywater usage.

-- Dave (AK) (daveh@ecosse.net), November 01, 2000.

Each county is different - my brother lives in Hot Springs, NC, has a homemade composting toilet, etc. - they could care less what he does on his land. They have inspection laws on the books, but nobody really follows them. - Julia

-- Julia in Tally (tofubiscuit@excite.com), November 02, 2000.

Here on the outskirts of Cleveland County we were told that washing machine water "should" go into the septic. However I have not read any specific laws stating this. I know of one couple that ran a pipe from the washing machine, shower, bath tub to a 4 foot hole with pea gravel in it. they covered hole with screen wire. For 2 years now no problems. Hope this helps.

-- Kenneth in N.C. (wizardsplace13@hotmail.com), November 06, 2000.

Keep in mind an inspection only happens once. Meet the code then meet your needs.

-- Gary (gws@redbird.net), November 07, 2000.

As for not running the washer into the septic tank, make sure that there is sufficient gray water going into the tank to keep it working properly, if it gets too sludgy it won't work properly and it'll cost some money to fix it.

-- joan murray (alandjoan@juno.com), November 07, 2000.