John C Daley

I built a brick cutter similar to the original one after using bolsters for a long time.
The advantage is simply time saving.

Sam, your idea will work.
As for the technical bits there are good publications which will give you details too hard to explain here.

The part I'm most unsure about is bracing and getting the bales compressed.
Has anyone got experience/pictures using this method or is there a reason I can't find any examples haha..?

In some cases compression is not even done, but it does cause issues with the wall plastering.
If you have trouble finding the books, get back and I will list some.

Yes John Dean, the 3 chambers cause settlement in the first and aeration sometimes with machines or just surface area takes place in the next 2.
The final discharge would normally involve chlorine for residual bacteria

That 3 lagoon system sounds like a mini town sewerage system.
I have been involved in building them.
The lagoon system must be a usa process.

Gordon you are fortunate with the well and old septic.
That 2500 gal. tank is a good start

Nigel, what dimensions are we looking at for this structure?
Thickness of blocks, Wall height, diameter of the room.
Height of soil against the wall.
How are you creating the roof structure?

Aerated concrete I think will be afer than replacing sand with charcoal.Concrete gets its strength because of the interaction between the sand and the aggregate,
assisted by the coating of cement covering everything.
Since charcoal has a lower shear strength than sand, it may not actually work at all.

There are heaps of resources available. just searching this site for a start.
Alternative building material forums will help.
And any number of publications, its a big field to study with plenty of choice.
Have you observed what is being used in your area.

ave any of you considered Rainfall capture and domestic use.
Its very prevalent in Australia.
And if a big tank, 5000 Gals is used to store it, no treatment is required/
My signature has some more details.