Evaluation of Septic Tank and Subsurface Wetland for

Chapter 6 – Cost of Pisgah and Retrieve Sanitation Systems
Capital Costs
Capital costs in U. S. Dollars for the construction of the Pisgah and Retrieve Sanitation
systems is presented in Table 6-1. The Pisgah system cost US$ 13,396 and was designed
for a flow rate of approximately 2,580 liters/day. Payments were made in 2002 and 2003
at an average exchange rate of J$52 = US$1 (Onada, 2005). The Retrieve system cost
US$ 8,699 and was designed for a flow rate of approximately 1,290 liters/day. Payments
for the Retrieve system were made in 2002 at an exchange rate of J$49 = US$1 (Onada,
2005).
Table 6-1 Construction Costs for Pisgah and Retrieve Sanitation Systems.
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Pisgah Retrieve
Item (US Dollars) (US Dollars)
Building materials (steel, wood, concrete, pipe) 4,472 3,570
Rock media 2,308 2,449
Septic and water storage tanks 1,686 1,354
Plastic liner 1,256 n/a
Materials Subtotal 9,723 7,373
Jack-hammer (compressor) 2,058 204
Skilled labor 856 306
Community labor 750 816
Labor Subtotal 3,673 1,327
Total $13,396 $8,699
The Pisgah system utilized a rainwater harvesting scheme of guttering, water storage and
gravity delivery. The Retrieve system had a solar powered lift pump to deliver rainwater
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