Building a brand new homestead in the Ozarks - water and waste

Hello all! We bought some property in Dade County, Missouri last year, and we are getting ready to put a well on it. Though I grew up on a homestead with well water, I've never had a well drilled before and don't know what to expect.

I'm wondering about the costs. I have read estimates online, but I'm curious what other people in the Ozarks have paid?

Also, what do you all do for waste? Septic? Composting toilet? Would love to hear your stories and recommendations!

Any advice would be appreciated! Also, recommendations for well drilling contractors in our area would be great too!

Candie said "Also, what do you all do for waste?

Our property came with a well and septic so I can't help with costs for those.

One of the first things we did was have the local well guy come out to explain out well.

I believe in getting three estimates for all work I have done.  the problem with that is that they may only be one well guy in your area.

One of our biggest problems has been what to do with the trash as not trash services in our area.

I have found a good routine over the last few year.

I freeze dry meat on bone scraps in my freezer.  Then it is given to the wildlife in a designated area away from the house.

I have a spot not far from the house where I give the wildlife all my veggie scraps.  After 6 years there are still not scraps to be found in the area.

Best wishes for your future plans.

I can’t help on the well but I’ve had septic on my last two properties. They were both large enough properties that I didn’t have to hire a pro. This last one cost me around 3000 to buy tank and rent backhoe and fill sand / gravel etc. I had solid rock where I dug the lateral so I had to buy extra dirt to put back over the gravel. Prices can vary a lot depending on soil drainage. I was good there so a pro install would’ve been about 7k for an “easy” install which due to rock mine was not so I figure I saved 7-8k. Aerobic systems are a lot higher.

I don’t know what the rules for that are where your at but it’s pretty straightforward and easy to do yourself.

The problem at least where I’m at is there’s very few contractors who do septic so they gouge on the price bad. It took me 1.5 days to do this project taking my time and drinking cold beer most of the time lol. I find it absurd to pay someone 2-3k a day for basic labor more or less

I did forget to add that I was not working at the time so having the extra time and not trying to squeeze it in on a weekend was very helpful. If I’d have had any help I would’ve been done in one day though. If you decide to attempt just check your regulations to make sure that self install is allowed. Technically both mine were repairs anyways even tho I did a full replace. I relocated them both so there was no reused excavation time savings.