Living Off The Grid

Our property is in a volcanic area. On the northeast corner is an eroded cone with lava exposed. Prior to purchasing the property we dug test holes to insure we could install a traditional septic system. It’s not uncommon for expensive alternative systems to be required. Because much of the surface is cinders, the ground perks too quickly. Water is 1,400 feet deep so the county granted a routine exception to the required perk test results and issued a permit.

Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for illegal systems to be installed. I sought the help of a former county inspector in designing a system and completing the permit application. He made the statement “there are a lot of bootleg systems out there.” I know of one person who moved on to property after digging a pit and installing two 55 gallon drums as his system. Another person lived on his property for a few months without a septic system or any type of waste disposal. I’m not opposed to owners performing their own work. I’m not opposed to owners bending some codes where safety, functionality and reliability are not compromised. I am opposed strongly to behavior that harms the environment, endangers the welfare of people and creates a problem for future owners or occupants.

I know of people who have obtained permits and inspections and installed their own systems. Since I work fulltime, I didn’t consider this option. I obtained estimates for installation of the system. The estimates ranged from $1,500 to $3,500. (Alternative systems can cost ten times as much.) I did not feel comfortable with the less expensive estimates and chose an installer on the high end and was well pleased with his work, his timely installation and his friendly manner. (If you need a system installed in the Flagstaff area, let me know and I’ll provide his name and phone number. I highly recommend him.)

Julie proudly displays the partially installed septic system.

This map depicts land usage around Flagstaff.

Ninety percent of Arizona is public land. Locating a few acres of land took time because not much was available. Land close to Flagstaff is limited, is divided into small plots and is expensive. Larger tracts of more reasonably priced land can be remote. Some property is several miles off the nearest blacktop road. Access, assuming a road is available, is over roads that are not maintained.

The map above (approximately 100 miles wide) illustrates land usage. Flagstaff is near the center of the map. Private land is white on the map. Each small white or blue square represents one square mile. Green represents National Forest, purple represents National Park, blue represents state land and golden/tan represents Native American Reservation.

One of our major concerns was commuting. We lived about one and three-quarters miles from work and walked each day. Moving off the grid required a commute of 28 miles one way and associated costs for vehicle, gas and maintenance.

The commute is our major challenge. I’ve put on three to five pounds in the last eighteen months and I attribute it to riding rather than walking to work. We have one vehicle and commute together. Julie drives us to work and I drive us home. We take advantage of the commute by reading books and magazines to one another. I don’t notice the trip or the passage of time. It takes about 30 minutes. However, in one aspect it is time lost because we continue to squeeze in time to walk for exercise which we used to get walking to and from work.

OK, now you know the worst about living off the grid – the commute. However, I’d definitely rather have my 28 miles commute rather than a 5 miles commute in Phoenix. The benefits far exceed the commute.