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Srollins
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# Posted: 12 Dec 2021 03:09pm
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Hello all,
Question: Instead of paying 8-10k to get a water well drilled can you pump out of a creek ? Here's the story,
25 acres with cabin , Ritchie COunty West Virginia, creek is right behind the cabin maybe 25-30' away , typically 6" deep in some spots , not sure where it is fed from but we believe spring somewhere, always clear , doesn't smell, tested it with strips and all came back clear except bacteria that typically comes from animal feces which is typical in a creek due to deer, etc. so if we filter the water with a quality filter, could we use it? The intended purpose would only be to shower, toilet, dishes . We would bring drinking water which we would do with well water as well. Am I missing something? 2 k vs 8-10 k plus a well you would still need to filter correct? I'm thinking get a 1000 gallon holding tank and call it a day. We use the cabin for a weekend retreat . Please comment I'm really interested in opinions . Thanks
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gcrank1
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# Posted: 12 Dec 2021 03:37pm
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Walk upstream looking for feeder spring(s), if you find a good one you might be able to work it into a 'spring-box'.
Fwiw, since 1983 we have used a rain-barrel fed from the cabin roof for utility water catchment (2 diff cabins over that time). It is a commercial black plastic 'pickle barrel'. The steel roofing is far better than the 1st cabin's asphalt shingles. Water runs through a diy strainer system and once a month in rain seasons I add a dollop of household bleach. No insects, no algae; I clean it in late fall before winter lay-up. Id hate to have to try to clean a 1k gal tank, even with a hatch.
We dont filter it, plenty clean enough, but boiling is recommended.
The pickle barrel has never come close to even 1/2 full for the 2 of us part timing cabin life. We get our potable water enroute at a public artesian well that is city tested (7 mi. away).
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Srollins
Member
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# Posted: 12 Dec 2021 03:41pm
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That's awesome , thanks for the advice. Happy holidays to you.
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travellerw
Member
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# Posted: 12 Dec 2021 06:05pm
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Reverse osmosis can literally make sewage drinkable. However, those systems are fairly high maintenance and VERY high power draw.
Another option may be hauling. We haul water to our property in a 1000L IBC tote (potable as it originally held vinegar). We paid $90cdn for the tote and pay $6cdn per fill. Almost all little towns up here have a water station for residents. Our town is a 15 min drive away. 1000L is enough water for our family of 5 for 3 weekends (toilet, dishes, showering).
Its cheap and simple for us. Of course you need a vehicle capable of hauling, but you don't need to get 1000L at a time. 200L can even be hauled in a 1/4 ton truck.
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Srollins
Member
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# Posted: 12 Dec 2021 06:12pm
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Thanks nice info to know. Happy holidays to you and yours
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 13 Dec 2021 10:23am
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We use a water purifier. MSR brand. With our remote cabin carrying water is difficult. We bought the purifier n don't have to worry about it anymore.
We fill up 5 gallon jugs. You could dip water from the creek with a small pot. Then from there we pour it into a dutch oven pot. From there it's pumped into the 5 gallon water jugs with the spigot that sits on the counter. Potable drinking water.
Takes about 15-20 minutes to purify 5 gallons of water.
The water near our cabin tastes great. Has a little bit of yellow because of the tannins in the water.
The purifier has really helped with the water issue. Now we can solve that issue in a half hour while sitting in the lazy boy pumping water.
We paid 350 bucks years ago. Freezing can't hurt then and they are self cleaning. I would highly recommend one
Good luck n Merry Christmas
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Aklogcabin
Member
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# Posted: 13 Dec 2021 10:28am
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We use a water purifier. MSR brand. With our remote cabin carrying water is difficult. We bought the purifier n don't have to worry about it anymore.
We fill up 5 gallon jugs. You could dip water from the creek with a small pot. Then from there we pour it into a dutch oven pot. From there it's pumped into the 5 gallon water jugs with the spigot that sits on the counter. Potable drinking water.
Takes about 15-20 minutes to purify 5 gallons of water.
The water near our cabin tastes great. Has a little bit of yellow because of the tannins in the water.
The purifier has really helped with the water issue. Now we can solve that issue in a half hour while sitting in the lazy boy pumping water.
We paid 350 bucks years ago. Freezing can't hurt then and they are self cleaning. I would highly recommend one
Good luck n Merry Christmas
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spencerin
Member
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# Posted: 15 Dec 2021 10:23pm
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Would the tank be in-ground or above-ground? But, I agree with your thinking, and $10k is "lucky" for a complete well system.
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Brettny
Member
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2021 05:53am
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For showering and toilet you really dont need potable water.
They do make small UV light systems that should beable to kill the bacteria from the water. If you want potable water for the whole system this is the way to go. A 6in deep stream isnt very deep and you may end up sucking mud or running the pump dry.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/PUR-25-GPM-Whole-Home-Ultraviolet-Water-Disinfection-Syst em-PUV25H/315709293
We pumped water from our spring the first year at our property. Since then we have found and improved a spring to pump from. We only use it to wash hands and shower, it's not filtered water. When I build our cabin I'm going to do a UV system.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 16 Dec 2021 06:52am
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We pump (gas powered from the lake when needed) into a rain barrel and add appropriate amount to chlorine. This is used for showers, washing etc. For drinking I have a homemade double bucket filter using the Berkey black filters (four of them) to remove any chlorine taste, other (unlikely) containments and Log 5 viruses. To fill this I have a hose connected to the top bucket with a cut-off. open the cutoff, turn the sink tap enough to start the pump (but not the water from the tap) and fill the upper bucket. The lower bucket is connected through a foot pump to a separate tap for drinking water (could use a small electrical pump for this at some point).
All works fine for us - weekend cabin with the odd week or so. It does mean some extra work refilling the rain barrel every 2 or 3 days but it's a 15 min job (and could always double up on the barrels or use something larger). The most expensive part are te four filters but they will last a long time.
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