Rua Lupa

I have since recieved a very useful textbook I ordered on the subject -
Natural Wastewater Treatment Systems, by Ronald W. Crites, E. Joe Middlebrooks, Robert K. Bastion, and Sherwood C. Reed.

I will see what I learn and eventually share what I can here

I am thinking of doing a house sized version of what was done at Niagara Under Glass

"But one of the major problems of constructing wetlands for treating waste water in most North American communities, said Lemon, is winter. When cold weather sets in and the water that normally washes horizontally through a bed of cattails turns to ice, the frozen crust "cuts off the oxygen supply, and everything below (in the root bed, where most of the digestion of contaminants takes place) goes septic.""

"A final report from the pair will show that by growing wetland plants in sandier soil and feeding waste water downward, so it moves through the root-bed vertically rather than horizontally, a constructed wetland can remove contaminants from the water all year long. The results were impressive enough to earn the first-ever Ontario approval for a constructed wetland treatment system at the Niagara Under Glass complex" 

Robert Ray wrote:One of my friends takes his potted blueberries and roses and places them over his tank in the winter for the heat it gives off.

Robert Ray, where is your friend, climate / bioregionally ?

Being in a temperate climate with a high water table, my current system is a typical septic tank contected to a pump house tank, leading to a raised leaching field I have a meadow over. It works fine for now, but will probably need to replace it in the near future purely because of wear from time. When it does I want to make the most of it.

One factor I have yet to find use of is Waste Heat from a septic system - could that be utilized for heating an attached greenhouse? Could a whole septic system be used inside such a greenhouse by utilizing a wetland biofilter? Could that system be entirely gravity fed?

Already have plenty of information on dry toilet composting and other alternatives, so not looking for that sort of information unless it connects to a self contained biofilter system. Because I acknowledge that I am not interested in shovelling the processed wasted at the end of the system, and rather have other organisms do that part - just like my septic system already does for me.

If a leach field remains a necessary component - could there be hugelkultur beds on either side of the pipes? That way the pipes remain relatively accessible for future mainenance? Any other optimum use for leaching fields?

Keywords: Septic System , Septic Tank , Septic Field , Leach Field , Leaching Field , Septic Leach Field , Septic Drain Field , Gravity Fed , Soil Nutrients , Bioactive , Waste , Waste Heat , Black Water , Grey Water , Hydroponic , Wetland , Biofilter , Greenhouse , Temperate Climate , Passive Design , High Water Table , Wastewater

I do not believe I received the survey that was referred to in the latest Kickstarter email blast titled, "Time Sensitive Surveys and Layout!"

Shawn Klassen-Koop wrote:

Rua Lupa wrote:I would like 2 books for my bid.

Thanks for posting here! We'll need you to square up on shipping. Are you in the US?

I am in Ontario, Canada, P0P 1J0

I would like 2 books for my bid.

Mike Jay wrote:Erica and Ernie Wisner have plans on here somewhere for a greenhouse RMH.

Combining the heater/sauna and the greenhouse makes perfect sense.  Put it on the north side of the greenhouse and it won't block any sun.  Having the plunge pool inside the greenhouse would give better access in the winter (assuming it would be snow/ice covered outside) but it could be pretty warm in the summer.

How big will this greenhouse be?

The size is yet to be determined based on what it will do.

Mike Jay wrote:It looks like the pine trees would be to the west of the greenhouse (if it sat upon the well).  With that ditch between the trees and the house I'm guessing you'd have to do a lot of earthworks to cause a water lens to infiltrate into the basement.  But I'm far from an expert in that department.

Having a well in the greenhouse would be very cool.  It should help with winter temperature control (assuming you want to have plants in the greenhouse in winter).

Is a plunge pool just a deep pool with a small footprint?  Would you make the well into the pool or have a separate pool somewhere?

Hi Mike Jay,

My goal for a greenhouse is to have it's primary function be for year round growing.

A plunge pool is a deep pool with a small footprint - it's function is for quick cool downs, often co-functioning with a sweathouse, which I have considered adding in a greenhouse design. I have been scoping out rocketstove designs that could be used in sweathouses just for that purpose, and why not have it all in one in a greenhouse since it increases heat and humidity anyway. Any info in that regard would be greatly appreciated too.

That said, I am not dead set on a plunge pool being in or outside a greenhouse. Just looking at all the options to determine what is best for the site I am working with. Though a year round pool would be pretty darn sweet. The well would ideally assist the pool and water plants year round. As it is, the well is still a back up source of drinking water so I would like to preserve that function.

Bryant RedHawk wrote:I've seen one greenhouse that had both a fountain and a plunge pool inside, the pool was built with a pond liner and the fountain was at the other end of the greenhouse.
The owner had a motorized cover for the pool (they had small children), the above ground portion was tiled concrete blocks.
His humidity was in the 75% range because he collected orchids and other tropical plants.

Bryant RedHawk, do you know where I can learn more about this project or others like it?

Thanks for responding to my queries.

wayne fajkus wrote:Is the well functional? In my area it is required to plug it if city water is hooked up or if septic is installed within x feet of  it. They pump a bentonite mud mix into it.

It has a line to the basement with a UV sterilizer, I would have to look at it more to see if we can actually run water from it in the house. We were given no indication on it's condition since we are hooked up to town water.


As for Bryant RedHawk's suggestions in the previous response.

With the Well Head as a component of a plunge pool - I am concerned about winter freezing damaging the well, is a distance requirement recommended, or can it be established in a way that the well is not damaged?

I like the idea of having the well head in the green house to water the plants.

Would it be too much to have a plunge pool in the green house? If not, how would that be installed? Would it be any different than what would be required for an indoor pool? Or could it be made so that the foundation is fully / partially the natural ground - or is that too much risk for the structure?

Has anyone done a Natural swimming pool indoors?