Sewage infrastructure is a critical part of any self–sufficient intentional community. Without thoughtful sewage infrastructure, the health of the community’s inhabitants and the surrounding environment can be compromised. Sewage systems can also be costly to build and maintain, so it is important to take the time to plan out a system that meets the needs of your community while taking into consideration factors such as cost, available resources, and environmental impact. Traditional sewage systems in America are incredibly wasteful.
Sewage is the perfect example of a wasteful output. Closing the loop allows us to turn that output into an input. Instead of dumping all those valuable nutrients down the drain or into a septic tank to rot, we can collect the biogas for energy and convert the waste materials into valuable compost.
When building your off-grid sewage infrastructure there are two main options – composting toilets or biogas reactors. Composting toilets are cheaper and easier to set up but require more maintenance and create solid waste that must still be dealt with in an environmentally conscious manner. Biogas reactors generate natural gas just like you find in a propane tank. This can be used to produce electricity, heat water, or cook food. Biogas reactors also require less maintenance than compost toilets but can be expensive to build and maintain. Both options have their advantages and disadvantages but choosing one of the two is essential for any intentional community that wants to remain self-sufficient.
- Building Your Infrastructure
- Sewage Infrastructure
- Compost Toilets
- Biogas Reactors
- Biogas for Heat
- Biogas for Electricity
- Sewage Infrastructure