Forums > Specific Focus > Home, Garden & Construction in Mexico

sfmacaws

Oct 9, 2006, 1:34 AM

Post #1 of 13 (3203 views)

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Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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I wasn't sure where to post this but picked this forum since it is a technical description of how the sewage is dealt with in both old and new construction. I'm really just posting a link to a blog I enjoy from a young couple living in Mérida. It's the best explanation I've seen (with diagrams even) of how the septic system is laid out and what the problem is with paper. It may be that this type is only used in the south, perhaps Rolly will know.

http://www.yucatanliving.com/...can-fosa-septica.htm

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

sparks

Oct 9, 2006, 6:25 AM

Post #2 of 13 (3195 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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That is an interesting article but I've run into more problems in Mexico with drainage before it even gets to the septic or street; pipe to small, sharp turns in the pipe, tree roots in the pipes (often cement), bad angle toward the street or septic ... etc.

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

Rolly / Moderator

Oct 9, 2006, 7:11 AM

Post #3 of 13 (3186 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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I'm so glad that I live in a house and a city with a modern sewer system so I don't have to save the paper.

Rolly Pirate

(This post was edited by Rolly on Oct 9, 2006, 4:32 PM)

sfmacaws

Oct 9, 2006, 1:18 PM

Post #4 of 13 (3167 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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I'm used to tossing the paper, we do it in the RV as well. It sounds like that is nothing compared to cracking the fosa septica, that really sounds like a nasty job.

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán

juditha16

Oct 9, 2006, 1:38 PM

Post #5 of 13 (3160 views)

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Re: [sfmacaws] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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Will using a garbage disposal clog or otherwise upset your fosa septica?
Judith

patricio_lintz

Oct 9, 2006, 2:35 PM

Post #6 of 13 (3152 views)

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Re: [juditha16] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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It is not recommended. Check out the septic tank digester size. Most Mexican syatems are too small. Example: USA minimum size is 5,000 gallons. Minimum fosa septica plastic tank recommended for a family of five is 1120 liters =294 gallons.

http//www.makeyourhomeinmexico.com

sparks

Oct 9, 2006, 6:37 PM

Post #7 of 13 (3134 views)

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Re: [juditha16] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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I never used a garbage disposal because they can clog up a modern system let alone what you may have in Mexico.

Why not compost

Sparks Mexico - Sparks Costalegre

juditha16

Oct 9, 2006, 9:15 PM

Post #8 of 13 (3120 views)

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Re: [sparks] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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You're right, Sparks. Composting is a much better idea.
Judith

wendy devlin

Oct 10, 2006, 8:24 AM

Post #9 of 13 (3099 views)

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Re: [juditha16] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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Am a big fan of composting...everything possible.

However when composting in coastal Mexico, ran into very hard, almost undiggeable soil throughout the whole backyard. What to do about the compostables?

Went ahead anyway, layering the vegetable and fruit scraps as best as possible in the far corner of two meeting brick walls with whatever soil could be added.

Moistened the pile now and again with buckets of water. Knew enough not to unduly tempt vermin with meat or other protein scraps.

Didn't expect quick results but figured that over time, the pile would rot down and give me compost for the other shrubs and garden areas.

One day, I went to the corner to turn the pile.

It was turning itself!

The pile was a seething, wriggling mass of larval life, reminiscent of horror flicks. At the end of that explosion of life, the pile faded away to nearly nothing.

And I stopped adding fuel to the fire.

So those of you who do compost successfully in Mexico, how do you do it?

thriftqueen

Oct 10, 2006, 11:38 AM

Post #10 of 13 (3082 views)

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Re: [wendy devlin] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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So those of you who do compost successfully in Mexico, how do you do it?

We compost all our veggie peels y etc. Never put grease or as you say protein type garbage in it. We had our gardner build a small 3 sided structure out of bricks and use chicken wire on top of the pile as our dogs would love to explore the leavings. To start add a bit of dirt to the refuse and even a handful of fertilizer to start the cooking process. Be sure the composter is where it will get sun (not in heavy shade) turn the pile occasionally and if need be sprinkle with water, the pile should be moist but not soaking. We have a couple of resident Redbirds who love to check out what we've added as well as the lizards and butterflies. As the compost matures you can separate the good soil it produces to one side for use in flower pots & etc. I simply bag and freeze my chicken and other bones and add them to the basura on pickup day.

Bubba

Oct 11, 2006, 8:31 AM

Post #11 of 13 (3053 views)

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Re: [thriftqueen] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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Compost is not an option the house has one small paved patio.

punta4

Oct 12, 2006, 10:39 AM

Post #12 of 13 (3022 views)

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Re: [Bubba] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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We just completed some construction on the Pacific coast of Baja California Sur and because of our proximity to the ocean, we were required by SEMARNAT (as a part of the Environmental Impact study we had to get before building) to have a 4-chamber septic system which includes 3 concete/block chambers before the final filtration chamber stage. Each of the 3 main chambers is approx. 8' x 8' and 10ft deep. The final chamber is also 10 ft deep and has graduated sizes of gravel.

We started off a little cocky about the TP flushing because of this large system for only 2 people and the turbo-charged toilet we invested in. But we are sitting on a bed of lava and although the liquids might filter down, this article makes me think it would be better to follow the local tradition of TP disposal.

A friend of mine refers to the equilibrium within one's septic system as it's "Happiness" as in, you want things to remain happy in there .

Here are some photos if you're interested:

http://i22.photobucket.com/.../b315/oladulce/5.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/.../b315/oladulce/4.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/.../oladulce/15copy.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/...ladulce/roofview.jpg

sfmacaws

Oct 12, 2006, 12:52 PM

Post #13 of 13 (3009 views)

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Re: [punta4] Why you don't flush paper in a colonial city

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I agree, your system looks like a big version of the fosa septica diagrammed in the article. It has the permanent (you hope) filter and is made of bricks and concrete. I can't imagine wanting to crack it open to clean out the filter.

This TP thing seems to set a lot of people off, you should hear some RVers response when they find out we don't flush paper. It makes a lot of sense to me and I don't find it disagreeable. Of course, I have a covered bin and I change the bag often - at least daily and sometimes more. I too have been grossed out in public bathrooms in Mexico by overflowing open bins. When they start with how it is dangerous for the garbage men and the landfill and the birds flying overhead, I remind them of pampers and depends and lots of other items containing feces and blood that routinely go in the garbage without them screaming in protest. It must be a mental thing for them because it just doesn't make sense to have such a strong reaction against the idea. I understand mental aversions to ideas, just mention eating the tentacles from squid to me and I have that same reaction, or raw oysters (yech, stopping now or I'll start throwing up).

Jonna - Mérida, Yucatán