| Are you searching for affordable water system | | | | installer, or the least expensive and least |
| solution for an "off-grid" cabin or homestead? Are | | | | labor-intensive option is to obtain a plastic holding |
| you unable to afford drilling a well to provide | | | | tank from your local farm and ranch supply. |
| water for a seasonal getaway? Would you like an | | | | These tanks vary in size but are available up to |
| affordable water system to collect rainwater for | | | | 2000 gallons. |
| your garden or livestock or maybe just to do | | | | Filtering will be necessary if you intend to use the |
| your part in conserving natural resources? If so, | | | | water for personal or livestock use. Inexpensive |
| this may just be the answer you need to | | | | water filters are available that will perform very |
| accomplish any one of these scenarios. A | | | | well for these circumstances. Pumping the water |
| complete small-scale water system needn't cost | | | | can be accomplished in a variety of ways. If you |
| thousands of dollars to be effective, and I will | | | | place your cistern somewhere on your property |
| show you what you need to build your own | | | | that is elevated above the place of application, |
| affordable water system. | | | | gravity may provide the necessary flow to suit |
| The first consideration will be to determine how | | | | your needs. If not, electric pumps can be used to |
| the water will obtained. Rainwater collection is | | | | provide adequate pressure and flow. If no |
| becoming more popular for use in gardening, | | | | electricity is available, a 12v RV water pump |
| livestock care, off-grid homesteads, and "green" | | | | connected to a 12v battery will provide the |
| building projects. Rainwater collection uses rain | | | | desired flow. |
| gutters on your buildings to collect and channel | | | | Cabin and homestead owners that wish to have |
| water into your holding tank where it can then be | | | | heated water available can install a "tankless" |
| pumped, filtered, and piped to the desired location. | | | | water heater. These water heaters are becoming |
| A general rule of thumb is to only collect | | | | more popular because the water is instantly |
| rainwater during the months that contain an "r" in | | | | heated which saves electricity and water. |
| the spelling. Rain during the months excluded from | | | | Electricity must be available for this application. If |
| this rule tend have more toxic chemicals from the | | | | no electricity is near, a wood-fired water heater |
| atmosphere. If rainwater collection is not a viable | | | | may be purchased or built. |
| option for your situation, or if you use more | | | | An affordable water system can be made a |
| water than you can collect from Mother Nature, | | | | reality by a little ingenuity and research. Compared |
| you can check into local trucking companies that | | | | to the high cost of drilling and maintaining a water |
| will deliver potable water to your site for a fee. | | | | well, these systems may run less than $2000.00 |
| Next you will need a holding tank for water | | | | depending on your needs. Maintenance costs are |
| storage. If you are a devout do-it-yourselfer, you | | | | much less, and the water quality is unsurpassed. If |
| can build your own cistern using any number of | | | | you are in need of an affordable water system, I |
| methods including concrete blocks, ferro-cement, | | | | urge you to consider these options, it will be well |
| or bricks, you may wish to buy a pre-built | | | | worth the effort. |
| concrete cistern from your local septic tank | | | | |