Pictured is a stone bed system installed for a three bedroom home in Alna, ME.

Stone Bed

A Stone Bed or Stone and Pipe system is the most traditional and widely recognized type of septic disposal system. The wastewater from the septic tank flows into the perforated distribution pipes and into the washed stone. The stone naturally creates voids for the effluent to filter through before being released into the surrounding soil.

A stone bed is dependent on adequate soil depth and permeability, also proper separation from any ground water or ledge, but given the right conditions a stone bed is an extremely simple and durable option. There’s no mechanical components involved, just stone and pipe. They are much more durable than a system that uses a proprietary device like an infiltrator or Eljen, making them less susceptible to being crushed or damaged. That simplicity can be an advantage if you have the space for it.