Leach Field cost

Was looking to install a septic system. Would be for a family of 4-6 people in the MO area. Want to use the leach field system to get rid of waste. There is some pretty good info out there on what I would need to do to get it done. But not too much on what it would cost in material or labor. Has anyone here had this installed on there home? If so what did you pay? I got most of my info from here http://inspectapedia.com/septic/Septic_Drainfield_Size.htm.

The expense will be for the septic tank. The leach field itself is just a trench or series of trenches with gravel and perforated drain pipe. Test the soil first to make sure it drains properly and make sure it isn't close to any wells. Beware of any slope guidelines, if you are close to a slope. The leach field only gets rid of the liquid; the solids are stored in the septic tank until they are pumped out.

Make sure you follow the guidelines published by your county and get permits for it. As long as everything is sized properly, and the soil percolates properly, you'll be fine. Cost will be determined by how much of the work you're willing to do yourself.

For me the gravel would have cost more than the tank. It all depends on where you see what some material and labor cost. Ten years ago the bids ranged from 4 to 6 thousand for everything and they were more materials than labor.

Did you do a perk test?

Have you figured out where in relation to the house?

Do you have a way to dig the trenches yourself?

Look carefully at zoning rules, many have gotten really onerous about septic, impossible to diy.

Hi Gabe, keep in mind that if costs are a big factor - you have other options as well. A compost toilet can be built for next to nothing. A grey water comfrey bed can be done by hand if the falls on the site are right (and you have plenty time for digging). You also obtain a yield from these two, of that permaculture principle is important to you. I've a list of different options on http://www.wetlandsystems.ie/watertips.html if you want to take a look.

In terms of costs, I'd expect to pay about €3500ish for a new septic tank and percolation system here in Ireland. But that's not necessarily much help to you where you are.

All the best with the project.

If city permits will allow it I want to build the septic tank myself out of cinderblocks.
I would be doing the digging all myself with a bobcat and a back hoe
I have not done a perk test, what would that cost on a general average?
If the city would not allow this to be done, what other options are their for handling my own waste othe rthan a composte toilet?
I know how much gravel you would need is dependent on how big your field would be in conjuction with how many people you would have in said house, but with cost of paying someone to ship it out there what do you think that would cost?
thank you all for your responses it has been a great help.

Gabe, we had one put in for us in WV. We had heard quotes of $3500 and up.
We bought a 750 gallon poly septic tank, a dollar per gallon. Perforated pipe and some solid pipe $180, pea gravel for leach field $300 delivered. We had a cousin put it in and thought he would do us right but charged $500(another cousin said they would have done it free). I think the small tractor with backhoe attachement's rent was another $300. Right around $2000.
It was built on a private property, no inspections.

Hi Gebe, I'll leave Mike with the last word there. Any costs that I could give you would refer to Ireland, so they'd be no good. As regards to options: you've loads! (I wrote a book listing them…) Check out www.wetlandsystems.ie/watertips.html for a simple list of the different options available to you. Also check out Wendy's system in Portugal on https://permies.com/t/17877/composting-toilet/Humanure-flushing-toilets-worm-farms That looks like a really good source separation system - Permie-style.