What is the towns opinion? This kind of thing is usually pretty controlled at least here in NJ

Not sure.

There are self-contained septic systems available, however, being close to a body of water your choices will always come down to what the city/county will allow. It's tricky.

What are self contained septic systems? They don’t require a drain field?

https://www.epa.gov/septic/types-septic-systems

Here are all the various types of septic systems.

DD has a lake front cottage with a septic holding tank. It is connected to a warning system that turns on a red light in the bathroom when it starts to get full. Unfortunately, the light has never worked, since they bought it. So every so often my DSIL pulls up the top and checks the level. That doesn't always work. One Saturday they woke up and the toilet would not flush. Meaning tank full! They called the septic company and company said extra $$$ to pump on weekend.

DD and DSIL woke the kids and they packed up and headed home. Septic company would come during the week!

It's not a terrible system if you keep on top of it.

They do not have a washer and dryer at the cottage.

Where do you live? I ask because everywhere I have lived in New England the town had to approve a septic system before a homeowner could move in or before selling a property. Diverting his system into land that he didn’t own sounds sketchy, if not illegal. I would really make sure everything done so far is completely above board.

Am ok with holding tank I guess as long as am not pumping it out every 30 days $$$.

Only going to be there on weekends.

HI Shreona,

Just a thought based on @PRN posting...are you buying this property directly from the owner or through a realtor? If directly from the owner, you may be missing some critical protections from regulations that may come back to bite you $$$. If going through a realtor, the property and the transaction will likely have to adhere to local laws that protect the buyer. Even if buying through a realtor and the property is "as is" you should be very wary until you have fully vetted your exposure to risk. Do your due diligence. I can share many personal stories of how I have purchased houses with these kinds of issues and in the long run, paid for it many times over what the cost of getting expert opinions from licensed professionals would have been before I bought the property.

Going through a realtor. I think that is why they put in a holding tank and left the sceptic - because there is no room for a drain field.- to make it ”legal” in order to sell it. I don’t think a holding tank is illegal.

So the sceptic water goes into the holding tank ( not the solids).

Concerns are can I have both a sceptic and a holding tank?

wondering how often I will have to pump holding tank

what are my other options for a drain field. Back of the house is the lake about 30 feet.

I doubt there are any other options for a drain field. If the other cottages have the same set-up, I'm sure the local company who pumps the tanks has deals they offer.

Here’s another possible issue. If the owner of the property across the street wants to build (where the field was/is) it is expensive to get rid of the field (hazardous waste) and would you have to pay for it? Or be sued?

Sewage isn’t considered hazardous waste. And there wouldnt be anything there to dig up. And if there was an issue, in no way would the OP be held responsible.

If you're going through a realtor, there will/should be a septic inspection. The town will decide what needs to be there. My old house had a septic system and a perc test had to be done before the transaction was complete. I've been in a situation as a realtor where the seller had to replace an entire septic system because because it wouldn't pass code. In a situation where you're by a lake, this could be a VERY expensive fix and it's the seller's responsibility to cover repairs and your responsibility to do your due diligence.

If you’re going through a bank, they’ll demand an inspection. A cash sale, either with our without a realtor wouldn’t require one. I’d never buy a property without a septic inspection.

Sue, there would be the drainage pipes.

Still not the OP's problem. The property she is purchasing has a holding tank and does not drain into the neighboring property. Anything that went on before she bought it isn't her problem.

Hi @Simplysherona, sorry if I sound patronizing, but I am afraid for you and want to ensure you get the very best advice you can before you purchase this property. Posting on Houzz is great to give you direction, but if you go into this transaction without knowing your options and risks from a local expert, you may pay for this for a long time. A holding tank may be perfectly adequate and the cost to pump it out regularly may be very reasonable, but until you have real information from people in your area, it's only a guess.

You indicated there was a previous septic system. Do you have it in writing that the previous tank was removed and remediation was done properly? Have you talked to the neighbors and found out their experiences with the holding tank setup? So many questions need to be answered.

I have totally been star struck with houses e.g. our first house, a 1880's shotgun, did not have a sink in the bathroom. I didn't notice that until after the purchase. Duh. In our 1940's second house, the washing machine drained into the back of the three acre property. That was all fine until Chicago winter set in, the drains froze and I had to manually start and stop the washer to haul water out until it drained. Who knew to ask these things before we bought? Certainly not us as we were young fixer uppers, struck by the possibilities of the house, not the as is. $$$$ duh.

No one on Houzz can answer the questions you asked in your last post unless they inspect the property. Get real advice from local experts. You can never do too much due diligence.

I want you to have a lovely lake house, not a nightmare.

tozmo1, great post!