I'm wanting to disconnect my Washing Machine from my septic system and plumb it to a drywell about a 100 ft(?) from our mobile home.I've watched video of people using Drywells for rainwater from gutters. Do you think doing a drywell would work for our greywater? If so can someone explain to me how to do this ? I don't have a lot of money and I have really no experience doing home repairs/ improvements. Any help would greatly be appreciated.

 

Welcome to the forums.

Have you verified you can do this legally?

 

No experience with dry well but 100 feet pumped from a washer is a little far. If you have a slight down hill run it will be ok.

 

No , I'm not worried about it. We live out in the country.

 

It all depends on the ground, as long as the ground can absorb the grey water in a timely manner it should be ok. 25 yrs ago I piped my wash water off of the side of the hill which was legal [providing you were 50' or more from any ditch, creek, etc.] I don't know if the local regs have changed or not - haven't bothered to check At my son's place we took an old washing machine drum and set it in a hole filled with rock for his wash water and it's worked well for the last 7-8 yrs.

 

I can't say about the legality but they laws exist for a reason.
I would be more concerned about your ground water quality. If the dry well is connected to the same aquifer as your current well you could contaminate your ground water and make you current well unusable.
Where I live unused wells legally need to be capped to prevent surface water from contaminating the aquifer.
If you are determined to keep the well water out of your septic system I would be more inclined to run it straight on the ground or into a shallow hole and let the ground filter it.

 

Long ago dumping gray water on the ground was permitted. Unfortunately the phosphates and other chemicals in detergents makes their way into streams and rivers so gray water discharge is now regulated in most areas. Being in the county does not mean that it's OK or legal to dump/discharge gray water in a non-approved manner. Surface (non-septic tank) discharge has been banned or outlawed in most areas. City or county does not matter.

 

Thanks Pilot Dane

Totally agree about it not being good for the environment and should just be run to the septic system.
However since the original poster has already stated he doesn't care about following the laws would you agree that dumping into a well and potentially contaminating the aquifer is a much bigger risk then on his lawn? Assuming it doesn't flow straight into a water way.

I'm not arguing either option should be done and they are both most likely illegal where he lives. But assuming he is going to break the law regardless of what we say I think the risk of contaminating his well and possibly other peoples wells is the worse option here.

 

just dig the drywell and give it a try. no worse than what you septic puts in the ground.

 

Not correct. There is a reason cesspools and leach pits are no longer permitted in most areas. A septic tank and leach field performs a higher level of treatment before the effluent is allowed out into the environment.

 

Was discussing wastewater with a coworker and I realized I was misinterpreting what was meant by a dry well. I was picturing a old well that has gone dry. For instance if you used to have a well drilled down 100ft that no longer produced water so a new well 200ft deep was drilled. That was why I was worried about it hitting the aquifer.
I still agree with Pilot Dane, regulations are created for a reason and should be followed.

 

It is against the law. Not just a fine but jail time is not unheard of.

 

By drywell I mean a 6 foot hole filled with gravel and a plastic barrel with holes cut in for the grey water to seep out. Our septic system is messed up and has a small grey water/septic? wet puddle area thats in the backyard. Weve already invested too much money trying to fix it and can't afford to have it completely redone. So my thinking is if I remove the washing machine water going in to the septic it will take the strain off the septic /ground soaking it up.

 

Removing the wash water from the septic system will help, especially if the system is already taxed to capacity. It's also helpful to limit the amount of detergent/bleach that goes into the septic tank.

 

Building codes in most areas now require greywater to go through septic system because of danger of fecal matter and/or pathogens. Having been warned, you might consider a flower bed irrigation system. Drill many holes in a garden hose and bury it under 6 inches or more of mulch. Gravity feed this from an intermediate rain-barrel-like tank into which you pump the greywater from the washer. You probably will not have enough pressure for a standard soaker hose to work. Do not ask for permission. Better to seek forgiveness.

I have successfully RECOVERED two drain fields in rental homes I own! First, HAVE YOUR SEPTIC TANK PUMPED! Your problem might be as simple as a tank not working because of accumulated solid material. Second, RESPECT YOUR TANK! Avoid drain cleaners and chlorine bleach. Feed the organisms what they like. Search the internet for an explanation of how the anaerobic bacteria from the tank clogs the drain field. A company named NORWECO and others make simple PVC tablet feeders that you place BETWEEN the tank and the distribution box. Into the feeder you place tablets about the size of a cake of soap. The tablets oxygenate the effluent and kill the anaerobic bacteria in the drain field. In both instances, I have not had a breakout at either home since pumping the tank and installing this simple device. You might also try an eBay search for the tablets. Good Luck!