Yes there is an alternative to the regular normal septic tank.
The other alternative to the regular septic tank is a septic tank that works through aerobic process.
The aerobic septic tank is basically a small scale sewage treatment plant for your home that works a bit differently than the normal septic tank and uses more air and oxygen to break down the solid waste in the tank.
The aerobic septic tank system is more expensive than the normal septic tank.
A good perc rate for a septic system is between between 1 and 30 minutes per inch of water that should lower into the ground.
The faster the water leaves the soil the better off you will be.
If you have some land that you want to install a septic system on you can dig a whole yourself and do a simple perc test before having it done officially so that you can tell whether or not for sure the soil is gonna perc properly.
A septic perc test takes around 2 days to complete.
The weather needs to be dry without any rain in the forecast because the soil needs to be dry for the perc test to be done.
A hole will be dug out in the ground and water added to the soil and then they will come back in a day or two so they can see how much the water level has dropped.
If the water level does not drop properly and fast enough then the perc test will fail but if the water is gone in 2 days then the perc test will be passed.
Then when the perc test passes they will issue a permit for the septic tank installation.
Legally all newly installed septic tanks need to be registered and a permit is needed to install the septic tank.
If you install the septic tank without a permit and it's found out eventually then you can get fined and have to dig the septic tank up and redo everything.
You also need a perc test of the soil to determine if the soil can absorb the water that comes out of the septic tank fast enough.
The permit and perc test is easy to get and do and actually it's likely cheaper and easier to have a pro install the septic tank for you.
The professional septic tank installer can get the permits and have the perc test done and then install the septic tank which would save you a lot of hassle.
Depending on the size of the septic tank it can cost from $3,000.00 to $10,000.00 for the septic tank installation when done professionally.