Either that, or residents could trench and handle most of the work themselves. I've done drain fields before for septic systems (no joy in rocky soil on a mount

Either that, or residents could trench and handle most of the work themselves. I've done drain fields before for septic systems (no joy in rocky soil on a mountainside!) with my grandfather, the main cost is the labor. I get that some may not be able to handle this all themselves, but it isn't a monumental, herculean task. If your home isn't worth a working septic system, then it may be time to bank your paycheck and walk away from it, conditions permitting. Ugh, this comment has way too much bootstrapper logic, sorry!