Author Topic: Bringing Water to the BOL  (Read 31111 times)

Offline JohnyMac

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Bringing Water to the BOL
« on: March 27, 2012, 04:13:27 PM »
I posted this piece back in March 2012 and felt it needed to be re-posted. The reasons being I needed to update it and second we have a lot of new folks coming to the forum. I encourage all of you if you have a piece you would like to re-post do so. Please include any new updated info.

The updates:
> The system is 23 months old and has worked through -5F degree temps and during dry
   spells typically in September.
> My brother and I have cleaned out the well of silt and added a roof to the well to keep leaves
   and other debris from getting in it.
> With some suggestions from thatGuy, we are going to add a 55 gallon drum along the route of the
   pipe, to aid in cleaning out silt via gravity, as it builds up through-out the year.
> We still do not have running water in the cabin yet. So one idea my brother and I have is to put a
   black 55 gallon drum next to the house that the water feeds into. Then into the cabin to the water
   manifold. Then a hose up top so the extra water can run off. This is very important in the winter
   so the water is constantly moving and will not freeze.


For the past seven years we have been bringing cooking and washing water from home using 5 gallon potable water containers. For showers, filling toilet bowl tanks, watering the garden, we have used water from 55 gallon barrels around the cabins fed by rain water runoff from the roof. If we ran out of potable water in the middle of our stay, we just filled the jugs at the farmer?s house across the road. We thought this would work just fine until we drilled for a well.

Well this early summer the farmer across the road from our BOL told me that he found a wet spot up the hill from his house. His suggestion was for my brother and I to dig a little and see if the wet spot was a spring. If it was he would take his backhoe up the hill and dig a 4? x 4? hole which could then supply spring water to our cabin.

Well I started digging and about 6" down I found some old boards. I pried the boards up and what I found was an old well (See picture I). The well was about 5' deep and 4' wide - Lined with blue stone. The farmer wasn't surprised with my find and told me that the water supply to his house was from another well he found.



So this is what I did to use this find, about 300 yards from our cabin:

1) I walked off the distance between the well and the cabin. I determined it was about
    1,200'.
2) Went into town to buy some PVC hose. That is when I found out it came in 400' long rolls
    (See picture VIII), some 90 degree elbows, some barb connectors, hose clamps, and an outside
    faucet. I already had a 4 x 4 wood post, a metal fence post and a 5 gallon bucket



3) So I first I laid out 400' of pipe. Then I plugged up the pipe at the down grade end. At the well
   end I started to slowly pour water into the pipe using the 5 gallon bucket at the well end. I
   filled the pipe until it became tedious. Then I sunk the 5 gallon bucket and stuck the end of the
   hose into the bucket (See Picture I) ? Walked down to the plugged end of the pipe and pulled
   out the plug. After several gurgles and belches water started to pour out
4) While the water was running free I ran out another 400' of pipe (See picture III). Once that was
    done I inserted the barbed connector, 2 hose clamps and then stuck the two pipes together and
    tightened the hose clamps. (See Picture IV)





5) I continued step 4 until we reached our cabin

According to my GPS our cabin is at 1,420'. I haven't checked out the altitude of the well but it is up the mountain from our cabin. If I had to guess it is at maybe 75' - 100' feet higher than our cabin so 1,495' -1,520'. The pipe runs about 600' down from the well to our dirt road. Then the pipe runs along the road in the gutter to a drainage pipe that goes under the dirt road. Then the pipe runs through the drainage pipe to our cabin. All told about 1,150' of PVC pipe.

6) At the cabin I pounded in a 4' metal fence post. Then drilled a 1" hole through a 4', 4x4 and
    screwed the 4x4 to the fence post. Inserted the 90 degree barbed elbow and 2 hose clamps into
    the pipe from the well into a 3' piece of PVC pipe followed with another 90 degree barbed
    elbow (See Picture V).



7) Once that was accomplished I fastened the outdoor faucet (See Picture VI).



In order to install the 90 degree elbows and faucet I disconnected the pipe at one of the barbed connectors. Then I re-hooked everything back up. Voila! We had running water at our cabin.

Before the winter arrived I added a "Y" valve to the faucet and connected a hose to one of the outlets. The "Y" valve had on / off controls so that I could run both of the outlets simultaneously or separately. I then hooked up a garden hose to one of the outlets and ran that off to a dry creek bed. I then turned on that side of the valve and let it run 24/7.

I did this so we could draw water in the coldest months. In fact, in December temps hit zero and we always had water (See picture VII)! We fill 5 gallon buckets from the other outlet of the valve (See picture VI again).



I also added a one way screened valve at the well end (See picture II) so keep out pieces of leaves and algae from the line. In the summer I have to clean the screen monthly and in the winter about once every three months to keep the water running smoothly. 



Last, we use the water for everything. None of us have gotten sick and in fact the water tastes GREAT right out of the pipe. I suspect I should have it tested but?. I had it tested by Penn State University and they gave it a  :thumbsUp:

So there you go. Don?t hesitate asking any questions.


« Last Edit: April 15, 2014, 10:20:27 AM by JohnyMac »
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Offline gapatriot

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #1 on: March 28, 2012, 01:01:52 AM »
great post and lucky find no need for a pump! [URL=http://www.smileyvault.co

Offline Reaver

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #2 on: March 31, 2012, 12:02:25 AM »
haven't read it yet. Had to post my very first thought when I read the title.


" There is a reason I call my children slave labor "

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Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2013, 05:48:36 PM »
Bump!
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Ghost

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2013, 08:20:37 PM »
Excellent update JM! Some of the people here us a set up much the same as yours at their cabins. Quite a great way of getting water. Beats hauling bucket after bucket of water by miles!

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #5 on: June 14, 2013, 09:05:20 PM »
 :thumbsUp: Frosty!
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Burt Gummer

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #6 on: March 12, 2014, 07:57:19 PM »
Super interesting post JM! :thumbsUp:
I can't tell what type of hose you are using but the only thing that comes to mind is that it looks to slightly micro porous, which with repeated freezing and thawing will crack the tube, like vines in mortar. Burying the line just a couple of inches should help with that, and prevent a random branch / ATV / Deer with and attitude, from puncturing it.

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #7 on: March 13, 2014, 01:18:33 PM »
Thx Burt.

The pipe is 3/4" irrigation pipe made from some poly compound. It is designed to be impervious to the elements, e.g. sun, cracking when frozen, etc. Many of the farmers in the AO of the cabin use it.

The stuff was laid July 2011. The price of the stuff is $120- a roll and there is ~300 feet in a roll.
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Offline Kentactic

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #8 on: March 13, 2014, 02:20:39 PM »
I cant see the images but keep in mind standard PVC pipe (not the black drip line) is not UV ray proof. It bows and becomes brittle.
« Last Edit: March 13, 2014, 02:24:23 PM by Kentactic »
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Offline jimLE

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #9 on: January 20, 2016, 11:47:33 AM »
great setup johnnymac..and a great find on the well..

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #10 on: January 20, 2016, 06:04:03 PM »
Thanks JimLE.

This fall I brought into the cabin the water so no more lugging in buckets of water in zero degree temps.

I have written a DIY article for this new step at the redoubt. I just haven't proof read it and inbeded pics into the article.
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Offline Nemo

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #11 on: January 20, 2016, 09:11:58 PM »
Looks like after the first month or 3 you will have enough normal leaf fall to have that hose covered and generally hidden from normal viewing and a bit of winter insulation on it.  That wont help beyond a heavy frost but hidden is good.

You indicate it does not break when frozen but does freeze up?  Have you tried working and shaking it to get break it loose?  Does that work?  Do you leave it running all winter to keep it running?

Nemo
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Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #12 on: January 21, 2016, 07:48:14 AM »
When the temp stays below 32 degrees 24 hrs a day(~4 months a year), we let it run freely. Although the pipe has been covered naturally over the years (This project was done in 2011) there is a 100 yard stretch we keep exposed to the sun except when it snows. The snow acts as insulation during those weeks when the temp doesn't get above 10. 

Typically in September, our well dries up. At that time we get water from our neighbor. Then October the rains come again, then the snow and then spring rains.
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Offline jimLE

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #13 on: January 21, 2016, 11:11:35 AM »
is there a way you can set-up a rain catchment system of some kind next to the well?.and with a shut off valve..this way, you'll be able to collect rain water.and then empty it into the well when needed.

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #14 on: January 21, 2016, 11:16:47 AM »
Sure, I guess.

We have rain catchment systems too. The basic gutter to 55 gal. drums around the cabin. We use this water for the garden when the well goes dry in September.
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Offline Nemo

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #15 on: January 21, 2016, 06:35:38 PM »
is there a way you can set-up a rain catchment system of some kind next to the well?.and with a shut off valve..this way, you'll be able to collect rain water.and then empty it into the well when needed.

I figure it would be better to send the rain by the well straight in to the pipe rather than losing however much in the well?  Am I figuring wrong or missing something.

Nemo
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Offline jimLE

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #16 on: January 22, 2016, 09:11:16 AM »
the catchment system im thinking of.would be set up next to the well.that way,all that would have to done.is drain the water from it,and into the well

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #17 on: January 22, 2016, 10:36:02 AM »
Keep in mind a rain catchment system wouldn't help if there is no rain. If there is rain no need for a rain catchment system as the well will fill.
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Offline thatGuy

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #18 on: January 26, 2016, 08:14:06 PM »
Johny, I've come up with a fantastic silt/crap separator if you want me to write it up I'd be happy to do so.. also 55g drums bro!! Get them!

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #19 on: January 26, 2016, 08:55:59 PM »
ABSOLUTELY!

I was thinking of you today as I was putting back together my water system.
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Offline thatGuy

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #20 on: January 27, 2016, 10:05:43 PM »
http://theurbanfarmingguys.com/vortex-fiters-organic-fertilizer-dispensers

Turns out the hard work has been done! I'm thinking that you could reduce the size fittings to meet your need and also relocate the outlet to the center of the lid.

What I like about this design is it will allow you to clean the silt out very easily!

Offline thatGuy

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #21 on: January 27, 2016, 10:07:40 PM »
I would also set this up so that the top of the barrel was bellow the level of the spring and install a spigot in the side so if need be you could have 50g or so on hand when the water runs out ;)

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #22 on: January 28, 2016, 08:18:45 AM »
COO BEANS TG!  :bravo:

I like the organic fertilizer this DYI produces.  :dance:
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Offline thatGuy

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #23 on: January 28, 2016, 09:58:11 AM »
You dig that it's making fertilizer because they a using it to filter out talapia poop, yours will only ever make mud.

Offline JohnyMac

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Re: Bringing Water to the BOL
« Reply #24 on: January 28, 2016, 10:15:09 AM »
True TG but organic mud fertilizer.  ;D It will be good to blend in with seedling dirt (Potting soil).
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