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FishHog
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2017 09:00am
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so, off grid, use lake water for showers and have a water system installed, but not for drinking.
Currently I bring in drinking water, which isn't a big deal, but thinking if there is a way to avoid transporting/carrying water and using some kind of a treatment system.
Unheated in the winter, so must be simple to winterize. And I'm fine with bringing in water for winter. I've resorted to boiling water from the lake a few times, but figure then I'm just lugging in propane instead of water.
I do have a small solar system, so power is an option, but not preferred.
Just wondering if anyone has a simple solution that works well. Or do I just keep bringing water with me?
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darz5150
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2017 09:32am - Edited by: darz5150
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We have a simple set up from homespun environmental. They have a filter setup that thet say will remove petroleum products from lake water.
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KelVarnsen
Member
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2017 10:57am
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This looks like an interesting setup: Water Treatment for Off-Grid Rainwater Harvesting Systems
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Atlincabin
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2017 11:10am
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I use a spun sediment filter followed by a ceramic filter from these guys:
http://doultonusa.com/
Ceramic filter will get rid of the bugs like giardia. My source (spring) has no petroleum issues, but a carbon filter in-line will (mostly) clean those up.
My water system is gravity-fed (about 12 psi) through these filters and into a holding barrel. From the barrel it is pumped into the cabin system using a Shurflo pump. The low pressure works fine, as it drips into the holding barrel (25 gallons) 24/7 and is plenty to keep up with our needs. There is an automatic shutoff valve on the barrel (float valve similar to the shutoff valve on a toilet) to keep from overflowing.
With annual cleaning (or cleaning as necessary if you use it a lot - simply scrub the outside of the filter with a brush), the ceramic filter should last for many years.
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ClimberKev
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2017 03:23pm
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We're lucky enough to have several springs on our property. Since we're located near farm land we filter our drinking water using the Berkey system... www.berkeyfiltersusa.com
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wcchief
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2017 03:34pm
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Pulling water from a surface water type source leaves alot of unknowns. Contamination thru runoff, manmade discharge, natural environmental issues, and general wildlife can reek havoc on the cleanliness and potability of your water. Giardia is only ONE type of waterborne microbe to worry about, but don't forget cryptosporidium, coliform (e.coli being a strain of such coming from animal waste) and then any high metals, algae, and nitrates. Where are you pulling from? The smaller the source, the higher chances of being adversely affected by contaminants. Some lakes suffer from disatriously low pH, and high alkylides. System is a correct term. Find out how the source water's natural baseline for contamination....ask neighbors or local health if need be to be safe. I don't think "I" would trust a filter to remove petrocarbons... it's not that easy. Think multistage filtering system, followed by some type of disinfection. UV becomes a good choice as it is tough to dose a volume of water effectively without over-chlorination... erratic use/flows. Adding chlorine to a water source that you haven't effectively removed algae, and now you have another larger issue at hand... disinfection byproducts. Any nitrates in the water too will have an adverse effect with chlorine. So my personal belief is, if you don't have a clear idea of your source and what is in it, be safe and bring treated water or purchase such. You can spend alot of money and time/energy making sure your system is safe to drink from.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 29 Mar 2017 03:55pm
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good info thanks guys. Bringing it in isn't the end of the world, but take up space and can get heavy. More planning ahead for when I'm older. Hope I have time before that is an issue.
Small inland lake. No other cottages. As lakes go, its pretty clean and I'm probably the only one making it worse by bathing in it and running the boat motor the odd time, but mostly use the electric. Definitely beaver/wildlife activity though.
Not a fan of the chlorine route. Was thinking a small filter possibly UV system. Volume isn't huge, so maybe not worth the effort. Just wondering if there are any easy solutions.
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bldginsp
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2017 12:11am
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Check out the Berkey type filters. It just filters slowly through ceramic filters. These have been around for 200 years and are a standard for aid agency workers in locations with no sanitary water supply.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2017 08:44am
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Quoting: bldginsp Check out the Berkey type filters
I've been leaning that way for a while. Might have to give them a try. For continuous use, I think they would be perfect. The frequent storage/re-priming might be a bit of a pain. But reading though the instruction manual, doesn't sound too bad.
thanks all.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2017 08:53am
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Looks like I have a similar system to you (lake water for showers, washing etc). Previous to last year I too brought in my drinking water in. Last year I realized that the Berkeys had upped the game with respect to the purification ability of their black filters so I added this into my system to provide drinking water. I did a short post of it Drinking Water . As I note on the link, I should have just purchased the filters and made my own container system (which I plan to do anyway this year - lots of DIY examples on the web). The filters are not cheap and have a limited life span (depending obviously on use) so consider the long term cost. The more filters the higher the rate of filtered water. I run my filtered water into a modified Big Bubba water cooler connected to a separate drinking faucet with a foot pump - also allows for adding ice if wanted. When wet, the filters are heavy so any moving of the container puts a strain on the short, threaded end piece so I find they can loosen up and the thread can strip if you over-tighten.
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FishHog
Member
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2017 09:13am
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Nice Raz, thanks for that.
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wcchief
Member
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2017 03:12pm
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i do understand alot of people do like to use the berkey type filtering system, though there are drawback as mentioned above. Multifilters, like large particulate prefilters can help add longevity to their ceramic filter. The newer technology MF and UF filters do excel at filtering, but with all filters, they produce less as they build up / plug up. Either backflushing or swapping out filters is requred, and backwashing means having a pressurized clean source of water.
As far as lakes looking 'clean', google beaver fever. You can't see it, and its not fun to contract. Glad you are considering UV as well, as the primary function of UV is deactivating the DNA of the virus/bacteria.
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Islandlife
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2017 04:23pm
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We have had good luck with this for a few summers https://www.mec.ca/en/product/5035-528/GravityWorks-4-0L-Filter-System
We started using it while canoing and kayaking but started using it last summer in our kitchen at the cottage. Doesn't treat the water for the whole cottage but worked well hanging from a hook in the kitchen.
I think it is a combination of knowing your source as well as picking a product that you are comfortable with what it will remove
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Bret
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# Posted: 30 Mar 2017 11:03pm
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https://sawyer.com/products/sawyer-point-zerotwo-bucket-purifier-assembly-kit/
Anyone have any input regarding this product? Seems like a good alternative.
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razmichael
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# Posted: 31 Mar 2017 07:43am - Edited by: razmichael
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I have had a Sawyer .02 filter (not the bucket kit in your link - just the filter). These are extremely good purification filters and are considered "absolute" - anything larger than the pore size cannot get through. The .1 version is good for cysts and bacteria and the .02 handles viruses (likely overkill for most uses - also slower water flow).
IMO:
Advantages:
Absolute - even when getting plugged.
Both the .1 and .02 are very high filtration rates (compare to the platypus mentioned above at .2 microns - not saying .2 is not enough).
Easy to back wash when gets plugged.
Nothing to replace (no life cycle costs).
Small and portable.
You can pump water through for a higher rate (I tried 'sucking' water through which only sort-of worked)
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Disadvantages:
if damaged, it may not be evident that it is not working properly.
Do not freeze!
Does not remove chemical, smell, metals.
It is only this last one that prevented me from using it at the cabin. I chlorinate the lake water prior to using it for washing etc and wanted to use this water to purify further for drinking to keep things simple. My wife would not have 'accepted' drinking water with any smell/taste so I went with the Berkey. I could have also added a second carbon filter in with the Sawer I suppose. Anyway, I use the Sawyer on hiking camping trips which was another reason I did not use it at the cabin.
As mentioned by Islandlife above - figure out your source and then match (or over-match) your filtration technique. My Sawyer .02 would be overkill at the lake (but I have used it in some nasty parts of the world where it was not overkill). I could probably also say that the Berkey is overkill at my cabin but, for me, cysts, taste and odor are concerns so i don't mind. The Berkeys have really upped their game in the last few years with the level of purification. IMO the main weak point with the Berkeys from a filtration point of view is the threaded end piece and seal - any leakage there and you are contaminating your clean water with dirty. In my system I have connected collecting tubes to each filter and run these into my main drinking water container which partially removes this risk.
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KelVarnsen
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# Posted: 31 Mar 2017 08:16am
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Just curious if anyone has tried making a solar still. Of course output depends on conditions, but it might work well for a some of the summer months. This looks like a simple project that may be worth a try: Solar Still.
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FishHog
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# Posted: 31 Mar 2017 09:29am
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Quoting: KelVarnsen Just curious if anyone has tried making a solar still
I vote you make two while your at it and give one to me.
Might be a good supplement for the summer months, and cut down on how much we have to lug in.
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moneypitfeeder
Member
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# Posted: 15 May 2017 09:04pm
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I'm in the Berkey group too, I use blacks at home, and conversely use a cheaper ceramic (meets specs of the regular white Berkeys) at our cabin. We are fortunate with good water, but I do not want beaver fever!! Both berks (white & black) will filter out nastys like that. I made a simple drip system using 2 stainless steel stock pots for the cabin because I didn't want to go the plastic bucket route. I haven't had to bother with the whole re-priming in the field thing, I just put water in when I get there, and later that day I have a giant bucket of filtered water. It picks up more speed by the second day. You can make a hand-held, squeeze bulb primer for the ceramic filters, and then you would only need a small (maybe 8oz) bottle of clean water to prime it if needed. My hubby made a fitting for the blacks that will connect the filter to npt or hose bibs for easier priming for our home filters, and a squeeze bulb attachment isn't much more work to add on. You do need to make sure the chambers of a drip sys are fully drained, cause if the filters experience freeze/thaw, they can break apart.
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groingo
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# Posted: 15 May 2017 09:56pm
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I've been using a Sawyer Mini for three years, keeps the nasty bugs out and has never failed me though not the fastest you can also speed that up by adding a bit of pressure.
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