Beachcomber Holiday Park - You'll want to stay forever

Sewerage Management System

Wisconsin Mounds

Due to the proximity to the ocean, and the sensitive nature of the area, it has taken a considerable amount of research to find a sewerage management system that takes these factors into account. The final choice was to use "Wisconsin Mounds" for the en-suite cabins.

The Wisconsin Mound is a simple and sustainable low-tech solution for on-site sewage management. The Mound system views effluent as a resource. It uses natural bacterial processes and sand filtration to treat and disperse effluent, restoring valuable nutrients to the soil.

Developed at Wisconsin University in the 1970s and in use in the States for over 20 years, the Mound system offers a chemical-free alternative on sites where soil conditions make effluent disposal problematic.

How does it work?

Mound technology works by creating its own absorption conditions to overcome site limitations.

Layers of sand, aggregate and soil are built up on top of existing topsoil to form an elongated mound that is capable of absorbing and filtering effluent output from standard septic tanks. During filtration the natural bacterial processes within the enclosed mound system treat the effluent to a high quality. The treated effluent seeps through the base of the mound into the natural soil as well as plantings on the mound absorbing some effluent.

Maintenance

Because an effluent pump is the only piece of electric equipment used, expensive quarterly maintenance contracts required of many other systems are not necessary.

With appropriate use, having the septic tank desludged every three to five years and the pump serviced annually is all the maintenance the Mound system needs.

The mound system was commissioned in December 2007, just prior to the holiday season, and has proved to be very effective. There is absolutely no smell and the lomandras planted over the mounds are thriving.

A sign, with diagrams, has been erected near the mounds, explaining how the system works, as well as a detailed explanation in the cabin compendiums. However, the majority of our guests still assume that the mounds are a feature of our landscaping efforts.