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 Plumbing to lake island
Author: IslandGuy (MA)

I'm trying to figure out how to get water and septic for an island on a lake in Massachusetts. Without water and septic, the town won't let us build a small cottage. The island is only about 200-300 yards from the shoreline and we own the shoreline property as well. There is currently an overhead electric line that runs to the island. The island is mostly bedrock and we can't get a well-drilling truck out there. Idea is to put a traditional well and septic on the mainland if it's possible to get the water and sewer pumped back and forth. So far I can't find any septic companies who have ever done something like this. I am not a plumber myself but at least I know enough to ask the experts. Any advice is appreciated.

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 Re: Plumbing to lake island
Author: packy (MA)

bad news..

you can not install a septic tank on your island because of the possibility of an overflow.

you can not install a tight tank on new construction in massachusetts.

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 Re: Plumbing to lake island
Author: IslandGuy (MA)

Hi Packy. Thank you for the reply. I see you're from Mass. What are your thoughts on having the septic on the mainland and pumping from island to mainland? Would that get by having septic in the island? Sounds like you've dealt with this before. I'm looking for a creative solution.

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 Re: Plumbing to lake island
Author: packy (MA)

yeah, i'm up here on cape ann.

i've had a couple projects on conomo point in essex. town owned land so homeowners own their home but rent the land. when a septic system failed the town made them replace with tight tanks.
i had a couple in rockport (some parts of town don't have sewer). 2 of mine the people complied and 2 wound up lawyer vs conservation commission.
anyway... anything you could come up with for a plan would have to be presented to your board of health who would then defer to the conservation commission.
the big problem will be that any waste water you produce would have to be collected in a tight tank. masachusetts law prohibits the use of a tight tank on new construction.
if you have the time, meet with the local board of health and then meet with the con-com.
personally i think you are fighting a losing battle. good luck and do post back with any progress one way or another...

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 Re: Plumbing to lake island
Author: steve (CA)

Packy, is an ejector tank considered a tight tank?

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 Re: Plumbing to lake island
Author: packy (MA)

i'm gonna say no it is not. otherwise they wouldn't be allowed on new construction.
so even if you tell the con-com you will make it tight then mass law prohibits it on new construction.
even if the they allowed a "tight" sewer ejector, think what would happen if the ejector pump failed and the water was running for a few day because of a stuck toilet fill valve. if the house was unoccupied for a few days then effluent would come out of somewhere and flow into the lake. sounds far fetched but if you go before a judge you have to day it can happen. i can't imagine what the con-com would fine you and the charges you would have to pay for clean-up because no insurance company would cover you for this kind of spill.

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 Re: Plumbing to lake island
Author: steve (CA)

Composting toilet and pumping the grey water to mainland?

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 Re: Plumbing to lake island
Author: Don411 (IN)

How about one of those electric toilets called the Incinolet? Uses 110v elec to reduce waste to ash. For the gray water can you get a filtration system? If gray water is properly treated it should be able to be discharged into the lake since no human waste. Get a 1000 gal potable storage tank, have it filled to start and then replenish it with collected rainwater. This should work fine for a modest cottage with a few bedrooms.

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 Re: Plumbing to lake island
Author: sum (FL)

Who owns the water body between the island and shore or is that public? Do you have easement rights to run any sort of piping across it submerged or exposed?



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