Worm farm waste system

We spent a fair bit of time researching septic systems; contemplated a composting toilet as an interim solution (but then realised that we would still need some kind of treatment system for our grey water) so decided on a worm farm waste system from A&A Worm Farm Waste Systems.  The service we received brilliant and I would not hesitate to recommend them.

The system includes a worm farm (essentially worms in a pit where all the solid components of waste go) and a series of overflow pipes downhill of the pit to filter the water waste.  The only limitation is that stock and food crops cannot be grown over the top of the pipes.  We bought a system that would cope with the shed toilet and the bathroom and ensuite planned for the house and a family of 6. 

This system worked in perfectly with our plan for a sustainable home.  There are no nasty chemicals, no need for pumping and dumping of solid waste and all the nutrients from our waste will fertilise the grove of Acacia melanoxylon trees that have since germinated near the site.

Delivery

My mad attempt at amusing the children while waiting for some action - pick up Little Miss and get Padawan to try to catch us

The kids tried to hide from the wind behind the tank and learned the hard way the laws of fluid motion

Swing time

Pure joy - Padawan gets to ride in the excavator

The pit is dug

The tank is installed

The vent pipe lasted a grand total of 3 days before the wind won and snapped it off at ground level.  The kids subsequently used it as a bridge on their 'fort'

Once the footings were complete we could measure up for the location of all the slab protrusions.  There were only two as we had worked hard to reduce them as much as possible.  Being amateurs, we were trying to make things as easy as possible for ourselves.  In doing so, we decided to have the kitchen and bathroom/laundry sink drain through the walls leaving only the toilet and shower running through the slab itself.

We struggled for weeks to find a plumber and eventually spoke with Mark from MBM Services in Moe who agreed to come out and provide us with a free quote.  Mark was really helpful and gave us loads of pointers.

We had Mark and his offsider come out to put the penetrations in.  They were a lot smarter more efficient and small digger for the job :

Mechanical shovel

 The large round penetration is the 'basin' catchment for the shower.  It's designed such that when you put the shower into place the drainage hole does not have to perfectly fit where the pipe it.  As each and every shower base is different, we actually purchased ours before we called our plumber in so we knew exactly where the final position of the shower is.

Toilet and shower penetrations

Pipe connecting to the worm farm