Mudnjoy@AOL.COM on tue 5 sep 00
In a message dated 9/3/00 11:19:00 AM US Mountain Standard Time,
rfsanterre@IQUEST.NET writes:
>
> We are designing a new studio. It will be in a rural location on the
Maine
> coast. The
> current sewage system is a septic tank and leaching field. We're
concerned
> that if we
> release waste water containing clay slurry into this septic system it will
> be plugged
> up, forever sealed and rendered effectively useless in very short order by
> the clay
> deposits. I suspect many of you folks have had to deal with this problem (
> not being
> connected to a large municipal sewer system). We'd appreciate learning
what
> creative
> solutions you all have come up with to handle waste water containing clay
> slurry.
What works for me.
I have a tiny studio space and no sink or indoor running water at all. I
have a hose right outside the studio door and filling 5 gallon buckets
outside isn't much bother here in the desert where my water lines don't
freeze and the summer heat is the only uncomfortable time to get water. I'd
like to have water running in the studio but I don't need a drain and I've
never convinced myself I the minor convenience of running water inside would
be worth the effort and studio space.. I've worked for an artist/ potter who
didn't have running water in her studio and I've worked for a small
production pottery that didn't have running water or a sink either inside the
studio. I read with amazement the simple and complicated solutions and
procedures people are willing to expend their energy on to make and use. I
realize I am serious about conserving water, I live in the desert. I don't
waste water. Some people would consider my methods extreme but for me they
are second nature.
Wanting to preserve your septic system gives you the opportunity to minimize
your water use too.
I wash all my tools and hands a small bucket using a sponge or hunk of
furniture foam rubber to wipe every thing off. If necessary I wash again in
a bucket of cleaner water. There is no need to have water running down the
drain while I wipe off the tools and my hands. I let the particles settle
and pour off the clean water the next day. The resulting sludge in the
bottom of the bucket can be wedged into stiff clay, left to dry in a sling of
canvas or used as ripe water for the next batch of clay I mix or recycle.
Same with Throwing water. These settling buckets slip under a work bench out
of the way when not needed. Take extra care watching for mosquito larvae in
warm weather.
Glazing wash up water, same story. I let the materials settle pour off the
water either use the water for clay or water an area in my yard that I isn't
part of my vegetable garden. I'm convinced the possibility of soluble
materials from the glaze rinsing water isn't worth the risk in the vegetable
garden. Repeat, the heavy materials have settled the stuff I pour off is as
clear looking as tap water. I really get a charge testing these scrap
glazes. Some are quite nice. I use them on non food surfaces tile, exteriors
etc.. (CLAYART archives probably have many other solutions for getting rid of
scrap materials if you create a large amount.)
Either of these methods will decrease the load your septic tank processes and
keep clay and glaze materials out of it in the first place.
Good Luck
Joy in Tucson a little low after reading "The Perfect Storm"
URL: http://holdreadstudios.hypermart.net/
Rod, Marian, and Holly Morris on tue 5 sep 00
I do the same thing in my studio w/o running water. I'll add two things:
1.My first bucket is a laundry-tub sized plastic bucket which I have set on
wheels (actually it is a plant dolly that I bought at Home Depot for $8)
which makes it very easy to roll in and out from under the table.
2.I put a few drops of clorox in it every week or so, to keep it from
getting too stinky between the times when I recycle the settled slurry.
Don't worry, this doesn't effect the wonderful properties of the "ripe"
water, because the chlorine in clorox is very unstable and dissipates in
several days, which is why you have to replace it. When you are ready to
"harvest" the slurry, just ease off the clorox for a few weeks. I end up
recycling and changing the water every other month or so.
----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Tuesday, September 05, 2000 3:01 PM
Subject: Re: clay waste water doesn't have to be a big issue
> In a message dated 9/3/00 11:19:00 AM US Mountain Standard Time,
> rfsanterre@IQUEST.NET writes:
>
> >
> > We are designing a new studio. It will be in a rural location on the
> Maine
> > coast. The
> > current sewage system is a septic tank and leaching field. We're
> concerned
> > that if we
> > release waste water containing clay slurry into this septic system it
will
> > be plugged
> > up, forever sealed and rendered effectively useless in very short order
by
> > the clay
> > deposits. I suspect many of you folks have had to deal with this
problem (
> > not being
> > connected to a large municipal sewer system). We'd appreciate learning
> what
> > creative
> > solutions you all have come up with to handle waste water containing
clay
> > slurry.
>
> What works for me.
> I have a tiny studio space and no sink or indoor running water at all.
I
> have a hose right outside the studio door and filling 5 gallon buckets
> outside isn't much bother here in the desert where my water lines don't
> freeze and the summer heat is the only uncomfortable time to get water.
I'd
> like to have water running in the studio but I don't need a drain and
I've
> never convinced myself I the minor convenience of running water inside
would
> be worth the effort and studio space.. I've worked for an artist/ potter
who
> didn't have running water in her studio and I've worked for a small
> production pottery that didn't have running water or a sink either inside
the
> studio. I read with amazement the simple and complicated solutions and
> procedures people are willing to expend their energy on to make and use.
I
> realize I am serious about conserving water, I live in the desert. I don't
> waste water. Some people would consider my methods extreme but for me they
> are second nature.
>
> Wanting to preserve your septic system gives you the opportunity to
minimize
> your water use too.
>
> I wash all my tools and hands a small bucket using a sponge or hunk of
> furniture foam rubber to wipe every thing off. If necessary I wash again
in
> a bucket of cleaner water. There is no need to have water running down
the
> drain while I wipe off the tools and my hands. I let the particles settle
> and pour off the clean water the next day. The resulting sludge in the
> bottom of the bucket can be wedged into stiff clay, left to dry in a sling
of
> canvas or used as ripe water for the next batch of clay I mix or recycle.
> Same with Throwing water. These settling buckets slip under a work bench
out
> of the way when not needed. Take extra care watching for mosquito larvae
in
> warm weather.
> Glazing wash up water, same story. I let the materials settle pour off
the
> water either use the water for clay or water an area in my yard that I
isn't
> part of my vegetable garden. I'm convinced the possibility of soluble
> materials from the glaze rinsing water isn't worth the risk in the
vegetable
> garden. Repeat, the heavy materials have settled the stuff I pour off is
as
> clear looking as tap water. I really get a charge testing these scrap
> glazes. Some are quite nice. I use them on non food surfaces tile,
exteriors
> etc.. (CLAYART archives probably have many other solutions for getting rid
of
> scrap materials if you create a large amount.)
> Either of these methods will decrease the load your septic tank processes
and
> keep clay and glaze materials out of it in the first place.
> Good Luck
> Joy in Tucson a little low after reading "The Perfect Storm"
>
> URL: http://holdreadstudios.hypermart.net/
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
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melpots@pclink.com.
>
ferenc jakab on wed 6 sep 00
> water, because the chlorine in clorox is very unstable and dissipates in
> several days, which is why you have to replace it. When you are ready to
> "harvest" the slurry, just ease off the clorox for a few weeks.
Rod,
All your clever (and they are clever) recycling tricks are undone by the
action of adding chlorine bleach to your water. Chlorine molecules in the
troposphere destroy more Ozone than any other chemical. Like anti-biotics we
over use at our peril.
Feri.
Joanne L. Van Bezooyen on wed 6 sep 00
Maybe we could put into the slurry barrel some of those little fish that eat
mosquito slurry. ;-) joke
Joanne in Tucson
ferenc jakab wrote:
> > water, because the chlorine in clorox is very unstable and dissipates in
> > several days, which is why you have to replace it. When you are ready to
> > "harvest" the slurry, just ease off the clorox for a few weeks.
>
> Rod,
> All your clever (and they are clever) recycling tricks are undone by the
> action of adding chlorine bleach to your water. Chlorine molecules in the
> troposphere destroy more Ozone than any other chemical. Like anti-biotics we
> over use at our peril.
>
> Feri.
>
> ______________________________________________________________________________
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at melpots@pclink.com.
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