Septic or Lagoon

[thebeav]

In looking for our homestead, I’ve seen some listed with septic and some with lagoons. I’m pretty clear on the workings of a standard septic system (septic tank with drain field) but how does a lagoon work and is it better or worse that a standard septic system?
Thanks

[posifour11]

18 years of trouble free use with a family of 4-5. no smell, no problems.cheaper to install as well.

[donsgal]

I know a person in Durango, Colorado who has a $500,000 house and a SEPTIC LAGOON! GO figure!

Anyway, he never had a problem with smell. He had to buy some stuff to put in it so that mosquitoes won't breed. Also, it is a hazard so your insurance will be higher probably. I wouldn't put one in if I had little kids that might fall in.

They are no longer legal in the county where I live in Missouri.\

donsgal

[rambler]

Originally Posted by wehes5

Well the DNR told us either a mound system or a holding tank..either one cost alot of money!

Technically a mound system is a septic system. Just built above ground & covered with sand due to poorly draining soil - to simpliy a bit.

Holding tanks really are horrid around here, as you need a pro to pump. Often. So it will cost you lots of $$$$ over time. One is used only if nothing else works.

Septic systems are the norm. More & more, only the mound type are allowed in my part of Minnesota, but if you luck out the simpler types are allowed on the right slope on the right soil.

As I'm in Minnesota I'm not familiar with lagoons other than the big ones for towns or large animal barns. Not allowed for a single home. When I was kid a trailer park dammed up a ravine & made a lagoon, but that was forced to close in the late 70s or early 80s due to the lagoon not being allowed any more.

--->Paul

[Gregw]

Another positive opinion of lagoons here. Remember a lagoon system has a septic tank the same as a lateral field system does. They are typically used in soils that that don't pass the perk test. Ours has cat-tails, bull frogs, crayfish, minows etc. attracts a lot of wildlife. No smells, no worries.

[copperhead51]

Originally Posted by Gregw

Another positive opinion of lagoons here. Remember a lagoon system has a septic tank the same as a lateral field system does. They are typically used in soils that that don't pass the perk test. Ours has cat-tails, bull frogs, crayfish, minows etc. attracts a lot of wildlife. No smells, no worries.

My lagoon does not have a septic tank and it works great. I know a lot of people with lagoons and they don't have septic tanks either.

[yarrow]

ours doesn't have a septic either, just a pipe from the house, out across the edge of the pasture (buried of course) and into the lagoon. about as low tech as you can get, but a nice step above an outhouse . maybe only us *hillbillies* have our own private poop ponds out back ?
susie