Have you really considered your water usage/needs in the event of no mains supply?

a reply to: TigStar82

Interesting post, thanks.
The pump/well thing would take some work to create though, I guess in a long-term situation with the community working together it would be a good option, but for short to medium terms I reckon just stay friendly with keymaster general of the well.

a reply to: grainofsand

Hi and thanks,
Yeah I agree, lots of work but there's a pretty good crowd up here and the local farmer who owns pretty much everything around here is a decent bloke he'd be able to help with pumps and stuff

For the first couple of weeks tho until everything's up and running il just have to fill the wheelbarrow with containers and man handle it around to my house, I could do with the workout to be honest so its a win win

The key holders a great bloke, he's the local church key holder aswel and has let my daughter stay late looking at history stuff like carvings and statues etc (she's a proper history geek lol) so will have no problem getting into the well house, it was actually this guy that told me about the well to begin with

originally posted by: TigStar82
For the first couple of weeks tho until everything's up and running il just have to fill the wheelbarrow with containers and man handle it around to my house, I could do with the workout to be honest so its a win win

Haha lucky you! It's a 100 metre/300 foot walk down and back up the hill to my nearest freshwater source, not including the quarter mile on the flat to the stream lol.

Interesting thread - and it is only when you have to go without that you realise how much you waste.

Having lived in Africa where electricity and water cuts were very regular, I used to store water in large buckets with lids for those times it was out. Toilets are indeed the biggest waste of water - but are an essential, unless you decide to go behind a tree in the garden (luckily I never had to do that, but the odd pee in the garden did help to water the flowers). Using grey water - washing up water etc for toilet flushing is sensible.

Cooking, also takes quite a bit of water, but it is amazing how little water you can actually wash with.

It is only when you have to carry the water to the house that you appreciate it more.

a reply to: 1984hasarrived

It is only when you have to carry the water to the house that you appreciate it more.

Good point.
My parents both grew up in households before the rural electrification project brought electrical service to the area where they lived.
When I was a child, I was urged not to waste water, even though we had a well that had never run dry and an electric pump to bring it to us.... because my parents grew up carrying buckets of water from a well that had a hand pump.

originally posted by: grainofsand

originally posted by: TigStar82
For the first couple of weeks tho until everything's up and running il just have to fill the wheelbarrow with containers and man handle it around to my house, I could do with the workout to be honest so its a win win

Haha lucky you! It's a 100 metre/300 foot walk down and back up the hill to my nearest freshwater source, not including the quarter mile on the flat to the stream lol.

Il be thinking of you mate after iv done my 2 minute trip to the well and I'm sat back on my lawn chair enjoying a nice cool glass of water haha

While we have a well...but when the power is out, no pump. We do have an emergency bullet bucket, but that would be a complete pain in the ass to use all the time. So, until we can go to a solar well pump, we have other, emergency water solutions.

Rain Barrels - These are great for providing water for the garden, and for washing, filling toilets, etc. of course, it could be boiled and filtered if needed, for drinking.

Water Barrels - These are basically 50 gallon water barrels we keep filled (we empty and refill about every 4-6 months). This is ready drinking water for us and the animals. We have some, but need to add some more, specifically keeping two in the stables, to make it easy to water the horses in an emergency. (the bucket brigade solution works, but is a pain).

Case Water - Just for drinking and convenience.

originally posted by: TigStar82

Il be thinking of you mate after iv done my 2 minute trip to the well and I'm sat back on my lawn chair enjoying a nice cool glass of water haha

Got two wells at one house, one at the other.

I plan to put them on solar power in the next two-three years, to avoid the no water thing.

Lake Michigan a couple of minutes away. Unfortunately?? The high water level has taken much of my beach so there's about a 15 foot drop off to the water. It was about 50 yards to the water a few years ago now it's nearly straight down.

a reply to: Gazrok

Gazrock, where did you get the water barrels?

Every supplier in my area who advertises them turns out to have USED barrels. Previous contents were often food grade (malt concentrate, molasses, etc.) but are totally unnacceptable for water storage. None of the big box retailers carry them here either, not even the farm supply places...

appreciated.

a reply to: redempsh

Any help here?
ebay

a reply to: grainofsand

Those are gray-water (don't drink it), and they have an open top for rainwater catchment. I'm looking for potable water storage--hopefully, that is stackable.

a reply to: redempsh

I can't imagine why many of them could not be used for potable water if they are new and clean though?
One of my storage containers formally held chemical plasticiser for when rendering with a mortar mix. I washed it out and good to go.

I'm from a generation who didn't die after drinking from the garden hose though

originally posted by: grainofsand
a reply to: redempsh

I can't imagine why many of them could not be used for potable water if they are new and clean though?
One of my storage containers formally held chemical plasticiser for when rendering with a mortar mix. I washed it out and good to go.

I'm from a generation who didn't die after drinking from the garden hose though

You can pick up IBC's that are water safe for about 50 quid.

1000 litres should last a while.

a reply to: nonspecific

I can get one for free off a mate who has loads just laying around his fields, I'm hopefully going to own a parcel of his land soon though, with stream frontage. We are in positive negotiation, payment will be a mixture of cash and work, nothing conventional in my life lol.

originally posted by: grainofsand
a reply to: nonspecific

I can get one for free off a mate who has loads just laying around his fields, I'm hopefully going to own a parcel of his land soon though, with stream frontage. We are in positive negotiation, payment will be a mixture of cash and work, nothing conventional in my life lol.

you going off grid then?

Sounds like fun. Mate of mine built a house in the woods a while ago. got about 6 months left to try and not get caught.

a reply to: nonspecific

That's the plan, already an existing approved stable on the site so I'm going to pimp it up and keep my postal address as my current home so the council are screwed trying to prove residency as I'll continue to pay them council tax. My son will rent my place off me for cheap, and I'll nip back for mail and a hot shower as required.
I'm looking forward to it, I spend many nights there as it is, bonfire and beer with my mate, even pick a 4G signal up as well.

originally posted by: grainofsand
a reply to: nonspecific

That's the plan, already an existing approved stable on the site so I'm going to pimp it up and keep my postal address as my current home so the council are screwed trying to prove residency as I'll continue to pay them council tax. My son will rent my place off me for cheap, and I'll nip back for mail and a hot shower as required.
I'm looking forward to it, I spend many nights there as it is, bonfire and beer with my mate, even pick a 4G signal up as well.

Give us a shout when you do it mate, I'll come and give you a hand and help you sink a few beers round a campfire.

Wanted to do the same for years but land is too overpriced round here.

a reply to: nonspecific

Will do mate
I'm going underground as well, already priced up the blocks/lintels/concrete I need, and with my mate on the digger we can bash it out in a week and have it covered over before the council have any idea.
...and being the UK, no land taxes, a little hideaway bought n paid for...with fresh water from the stream, solar panels on the 'stable' roof, and 12v electrics with a marine battery.

I'll be working a day a week 'free' for my mate over a couple of years to pay for it though lol

originally posted by: grainofsand
a reply to: nonspecific

Will do mate
I'm going underground as well, already priced up the blocks/lintels/concrete I need, and with my mate on the digger we can bash it out in a week and have it covered over before the council have any idea.
...and being the UK, no land taxes, a little hideaway bought n paid for...with fresh water from the stream, solar panels on the 'stable' roof, and 12v electrics with a marine battery.

I'll be working a day a week 'free' for my mate over a couple of years to pay for it though lol

Sounds like a proper mission!

Have you been stashing materials for it then?

Opp's I appear to have ordered to much for this job, better pop them over there just in case I need them...