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Outdoor shower drainage?

Posts: 30

Location: USDA Zone 9 A San Jacinto, California

posted 4 years ago

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Hello One and All,

I'm about to build an outdoor shower/toilet and want to use river rock for the floor. I can't find directions on how to build the floor so that the shower and sink water will drain into the ground. I want to plant ferns and such around the exterior. I'm sure I saw something about how deep and what materials to use, but that was last month. I live in a desert city that is kind of rural and often use grey water in the garden. The toilet will connect to the sewer for now. Can anyone help me? I keep thinking that the water would need to filter through the rocks and then through decomposed granite or sand...or both? Am I just making this up? Any and all advise will be gratefully accepted.

Sincerely,
Jane

Ben House

Posts: 198

Location: East Tennessee

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posted 4 years ago

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If you want the water to filter into the ground directly below the shower you will probably need to dig down at least a couple feet (2 or more) and fill with rocks. Just as you would for a leach bed in a septic system.

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D Nikolls

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Location: Victoria BC

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My outdoor shower has a raised cedar slat floor. Water just runs through, the grass and trees handle the rest...

Unless the ground is highly impervious or very sloped, or usage will be very high, this seems to work fine and be fairly common...

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John C Daley

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Have a look here for a start;
Showers in reed beds

or
Showers built over rocks for drainage

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Lisa Sampson

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Location: Rural North Texas

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I don't know about California but here in Texas that reed bed thing is a no go. Too many poisonous water snakes would love that habitat. Check out your local fauna to see what is there. You are on the other side of the Rockies so it might be different for you.

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Anne Miller

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Jane said "I keep thinking that the water would need to filter through the rocks and then through decomposed granite or sand...or both? Am I just making this up?

Jane, you may have read something about "French drains".

I would recommend using a french drain. Here are some threads that will help explain the concept:

https://permies.com/t/136531/install-rubble-trench-correctly

https://permies.com/t/138581/Sand-Gravel-Suffice-French-Drain

https://permies.com/t/18496/french-drain-system

https://permies.com/t/44338/french-drain-catch-water-wet

https://permies.com/t/1356/french-drain-pipe-water

If after reading these, you still need help just ask using my name and I maybe able to help with your questions.

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