Off The Grid:

  Water Harvesting, Treatment, and Storage

Michael Cushing

©2015 

Copyright

© Copyright 2015 Rach Helson LLC. All rights reserved. In no way is it legal to reproduce, duplicate, or transmit any part of this document in either electronic means or in printed format. Recording of this publication is strictly prohibited, and any storage of this document is not allowed unless with written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved.

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Please note the information contained within this document is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Every attempt has been made to provide accurate, up to date and reliable, complete information. No warranties of any kind are expressed or implied. Readers acknowledge that the author is not engaging in the rendering of legal, financial, medical or professional advice.

Table Of Contents

Table Of Contents

Introduction

Chapter One

Off The Grid Living, Water and You

The Water Demands Off the Grid Living

The Dangers of Contaminated Water

Viruses

Bacteria

Parasites

Microscopic Plants

Chapter Two

Water Collection

The Well

Rain Collection

Possible Legal Issues With Rainwater Collection

Springs and Natural Water Sources

Dew Collection

Chapter Three

Water Treatment

Constructing a Water Filter

Purifying Water With Iodine

A Solar Still

Using Heat

Chapter Four:

Storing Your Water

Conclusion

Other Books

Photo Credits

Introduction

Thank you for purchasing this book. Within these pages you will learn how to store, treat and collect water using a variety of techniques and methods that are suitable for those living "Off the Grid" or without access to a municipal water supply. Whether you are seeking to start your own independent homestead and need to provide water for your personal use, livestock and gardening needs, or just want to set up a few rain barrels to cut down on the water bill this book has you covered.

Saying that water is essential is an understatement. After being able to breathe, it is water that makes life on this planet possible. Many people have the luxury of not worrying too much about where their water comes from or whether or not it is safe for human and animal consumption. They just turn on the faucet and there you go! Suitable water for man and beast alike.

The truth about water is far more interesting than it would seem to the casual observer. Even though water covers a majority of the Earth's surface, about two-thirds or sixty-six percent of it is unfit for human use. Much of it is too salty or contains high levels of dangerous contaminants. After everything is said and done, only about three percent of the Earth's water is considered safe enough to drink without some sort of processing or treatment in order to make it fit for human use.

Those living on the grid don't have to worry about how their water becomes pure or where it originated from. These issues are generally of no concern to the average, ordinary person, living an average normal lifestyle.

Those choosing to live off the grid often don't have the advantage of a municipal water supply to meet their needs. There is no faucet connected to an endless supply of fresh water. Water, like everything else in the homesteading lifestyle, is the sole responsibility of the homesteader. It is you who must locate and maintain access to a water supply, make sure that it is safe and find a way to store it for future use.

This is no easy task. It is not impossible though. In this book, we'll explore the options available for those wanting to establish a safe and reliable way to supply water to their homestead. You will learn about the common ways water can become contaminated, see what well-digging entails and how to collect rainwater. We will also take a look at a few ways to prepare your water for use and keep it safe.

If you're considering the off the grid lifestyle, providing yourself with water is an important priority and a task full of interesting challenges. It is my hope that this book will provide you with the information you need to confidently meet and rise above these and the other challenges you face as you establish your homestead.

Chapter One

Off The Grid Living, Water and You

The off the grid lifestyle is not one that is suitable for everyone. It takes a certain type of individual to meet and overcome the challenges inherent in OTG living and homesteading. It's not an easy way to live. The daily demands made of the modern homesteader are intense and many.

When a person decides to move off of the grid, they no longer have access to public utilities such as electricity and water service. It is also common, in this lifestyle, for a person to produce all of their own food. This commonly entails combining gardening and the raising of small livestock. What this means, in a nutshell, is that a person living off the grid is solely responsible for everything that they need in order to survive.

Food, shelter, water, electricity, waste removal, etc. must all be supplied by the individual. Some of these needs are more easily met than others. A house can be built without too much difficulty and has the added bonus of only needing to be done once. Other shelter options such as mobile homes, make this requirement fairly easy to meet.

Electricity is a bigger puzzle to solve, but the innovative homesteader will be able to put a solution together. Many options for alternative energy exist, it seems there is a solution to fit just about every homesteading option. Windmills, solar power, and gas (or other type) generators are all viable options. Many OTG homesteads utilize a combination of these methods to provide consistent and adequate electrical service. While there is always a degree of uncertainty inherent in being responsible for your own electrical service, it isn't too much trouble to establish a dependable solution that can rival the public grid in terms of dependability and consistency.

The Water Demands Off the Grid Living

Unlike with traditional housing, off the grid-ers don't have the luxury of relying on a third party (in this case the municipal water company) to meet their need for clean drinking water. There is no source of easily accessible and pre-treated water available, it must be provided for by the individual. It also has to be renewable and sustainable. A source of water is no good to you if it is in danger of drying up.

Water differs from electricity in that it can't be produced by burning a fuel source or provided by batteries. It needs to be provided by natural mechanisms and then found or collected. After a source of water has been located, it must be treated and purified to ensure it is fit for human and animal use. There also must be a way to store the treated water for an extended amount of time.

Just about everything that is required to run a homestead is dependent on having a renewable source of water. Aside from the water that is needed to sustain human life, there must be enough water for the crops, to feed the livestock, for cleaning and for waste removal and all the other tasks that clean, uncontaminated water is commonly associated with.

It's not enough to just have access to water. It should come as no surprise that not all water is equal in its usefulness to human life. The water must be pure enough to be usable. It needs to be free of viruses, microorganisms, and chemical contaminants.

The Dangers of Contaminated Water

Contaminated water can cause a host of health problems and may even result in death. Not only for you, but for your livestock and crops as well. Bad water can decimate your herds, flocks and reap havoc on your crops, leaving you at a considerable disadvantage when it comes to sustaining your OTG lifestyle.

Using untreated water from a suspect source is never a recommended course of action. In fact, it's the number one rule of homesteading and water use. Dangerous water contaminants are classified into different categories:

Viruses

A virus is a microscopic semi-living agent that can only stay alive by infecting a living host and hijacking certain cellular mechanisms. A virus differs from bacteria in the sense that they are not complete organisms unto themselves, they very much need a host to live. A person or animal that has become infected with a virus will find no relief in medications such as antibiotics. A virus does what it does, and the host is either strong enough to withstand the rude house guest's intrusion or it perishes. Any virus is difficult to deal with, many are very resilient and can withstand high temperatures or lay dormant for years under wrenched environmental conditions, just waiting for a host.

Medications are available for some types of viral infections, but they tend to focus on managing symptoms in an effort to ease the discomfort experienced while the virus runs its course rather than target and destroy it. Boiling and chemical treatment methods are effective ways to cleanse your water of any viral threats.

Common waterborne viruses include some types of Swimmer's ear (Otitis Externa), Salmonella, Typhoid, SARS and Vibrio Illness.

Bacteria

Bacteria, unlike viruses, are living organisms unto themselves. There are countless types of bacteria, not all of them are harmful, and many are good to have around.

These tiny bacteria exist everywhere, especially in water. They thrive in bodies of water and quickly pass into a human or animal host and can cause quite a number of illnesses. Legionnaires disease, dysentery, E. coli, Botulism, Typhoid, and Salmonella are all common types of water-borne bacterial illnesses.

Thankfully, managing bacteria is usually a lot simpler than removing viruses. Many common types bacteria can be dealt with through boiling and filtering the water before consuming or using it.

Parasites

Parasites come in many forms, unlike viruses and bacteria; they are multi-celled organisms - usually worms and similar insect-like creatures. A parasite infects a host, feeds on it and lays its eggs within it. The eggs hatch inside the host and continue to feed and reproduce, causing all manner of health problems in the process.

Microscopic Plants

The group of water contaminants includes fungus, algae, and other tiny plants collectively called "Protozoa." They thrive in water containing fecal matter and other bio waste. Once they enter a host, the can cause skin conditions and various illnesses.

Consuming contaminated water is only one way to put yourself at risk to the above dangers. It is just as likely that someone will become ill through using water to wash or clean yourself as they are through using it to cook with and drink.

Ensuring your water supply is clean and safe to use is the number one priority to the homesteader when it comes to water. It doesn't take much thinking to reach the conclusion that without out a clean reliable source of water any dreams you had of living an independent, off the grid lifestyle quickly vanish in a haze of nightmarish parasitic infections.

Access to a sustainable source of water is something that is often taken for granted by much of the population. You don't have that option when living outside of the traditional system.

Figuring out how to gather and care for your water supply should be high on the list of every prospective homesteader.

In the remainder of this book, we will be discussing several options for ensuring that you have a consistently safe manner to provide all of the water that you need to properly care for yourself and your land.

Chapter Two

Water Collection

The average water use among Americans is eighty to one hundred gallons a day, most of this is used up flushing the toilet and bathing. This standard takes into account everything that water is used for during a typical day. Cooking, cleaning, drinking, watering the lawn, washing the car, laundry, etc.

In a homesteading situation, you may not be running a washing machine or hosing the car down every weekend but you will still be using quite a bit of water throughout the day. You'll be watering your crops, and making sure any livestock has enough water. This is in addition to meeting your personal water needs. The bottom line is that life requires a lot of water and if you intend to be successful in your homesteading endeavors, you have to know how much water you will need, and a plan to make sure that you can meet those needs. Calculating your estimated water needs must take into account the size of your homestead, the number of humans and animals who are living there and any agricultural projects you are considering. A simple vegetable garden uses considerably less water than a large hydroponic or aquaponic setup; goats need more water than chickens, etc..

Correctly estimating your water requirements will save you many headaches, and it is an important first step in devising a water plan. Make sure you take your time and double check your numbers to avoid grief down the line.

While living on the grid, it is easy to take for granted just how easy it is to access clean water from a reliable source. This is a luxury that many homesteaders and off the grid enthusiasts don't have.

Homesteading often means that you're on your own and responsible for all that befalls you. When it comes to collecting water, it is a good idea to have at your disposal several methods and sources to ensure that your water needs are adequately met. Relying on one source of water is not recommended, there is always the possibility of something going wrong- wells and springs can and do run dry and water sources can become contaminated in some form or another. It's good policy to have a few ways of gathering water.

There are several options when it comes to providing a safe and plentiful source of water for your homestead. Digging a well and collecting rainwater are probably the two standard methods of water collection that are being used in off the grid living scenarios. It is also a good idea to become familiar with some water collection methods that have been devised by survivalists for use during emergencies.

The Well

Digging or drilling a well on your property is hands down the best option for ensuring a safe and consistent source of water that can meet the needs of your property and lifestyle. Under normal conditions, a well can provide upwards of two gallons of water per minute. The water is usually safe to drink and consume without undergoing a treatment process.

Locating the best place to dig a well is the most important step in the process. It is worth the time and effort to have your land professionally surveyed in order to assist you in choosing the most advantageous spot. It is important that the well is located away from sewer lines, septic tanks and other possible sources of contamination.

Wells are generally classified into one of two categories, depending on what kind of water they provide. "Well Water" comes from a well that is often over two hundred feet deep. These types of wells are usually professionally installed and can run upwards of three or fours thousand dollars to dig and construct. This cost is minuscule compared to a lifetime of water bills, and this option should be considered as a first choice for anyone seriously considering establishing a proper homestead. The water from this type of well has the added advantage of almost always being safe to use as soon it comes out of the well. In only the rarest of conditions will you have to be concerned with purifying and treating it. It should, of course, be tested to make sure it is pure enough.

Wells that provide what is called "ground water" are most often under fifty feet deep. Because the water supplied by a shallow well is more prone to contamination, it is often necessary to treat or purify the water in some way.

A shallow well can be dug by nearly anyone who has the time and inclination. Detailed instructions for doing so are beyond the scope of this book. A little research will provide detailed instructions if you are interested in constructing your own well. Because it is possible to install this type of well on your own (or with the help of family and friends), and the well isn't going to need to be that deep, the cost of constructing and maintaining a shallow well will be considerably less than a well that provides well water. The downside to these savings is the questionable quality of the water that you are pulling from the well.

A shallow well works great as a way to augment your other water collection efforts, give serious consideration before choosing this type of well as a primary source of water. In some cases, it is best to suck up the extra cost and have a professionally drilled well installed on your property.

Rain Collection

Collecting rain is an ancient method of gathering water. Devices for collecting rainwater that are over two thousand years old have been found in various places around the world. Obviously you're going to need to be in an area that gets a lot of rain for this method to be worth it to you.

The best way to collect rainwater is to install gutters on the roof of your house or other building and funnel the water into barrels, where it can be stored until needed. There are commercially available gutter systems designed especially for facilitating the collection and storage of rainwater. Several barrel styles are available for purchase. It is also possible to construct your own rain barrels.

If you are looking for a simple, no-frills way to gather rain water you can do so with an easy tarp and a container system. Set up the tarp and poke a hole in the middle. Place the container underneath the hole. You may consider a length of pipe to help the water flow into the container. When it rains, the tarp will act as a funnel and the rain water will pour into your barrel.

Collected rainwater is never clean enough to drink or use right away. It's must be filtered to remove insects, bits of plants and other debris. Make sure you test the water and make the necessary purifications prior to using or drinking it.

Possible Legal Issues With Rainwater Collection

You would think that gathering water that falls from the sky and using it to facilitate your survival would be an activity that is possible to engage in without the interference from local and state governmental agencies. Sadly, this is not the case. More and more areas are passing or trying to pass laws that either force a tax on collected rainwater or make it illegal to do so in the first place.

The fact that a government body thinks it owns the rain and can fine or tax you for using collected rainwater is almost reason enough to get off of and stay far away from the grid. Local governments have a track record of hassling those who choose to turn their backs on the grid and seem to be trying to make it as illegal as possible to live a natural life. It's good policy to research your local ordinances before collecting rainwater in order to avoid legal entanglements. 

Digging a well and collecting rainwater are two of the best ways to make sure you can meet your demand for the delicate mixture of hydrogen and oxygen that we call water. There are a few other methods of water collection that are worth knowing. While they are not as reliable as a well, they are useful methods to know about in the event of an emergency or should your primary water source be temporarily out of commission.

Springs and Natural Water Sources

Springs, ponds, and creeks are all potential sources of drinking water. It should be assumed that they are contaminated and unsafe. Proper treatment is always required before using water from these natural sources.

You may have some luck digging in a dry creek bed for water. Usually, a relatively deep hole is needed to get past the muddy, murky area of the creek bed to reach a source of acceptable water.

Dew Collection

Collecting dew won't ever provide enough water to run an entire household or homestead but it will provide you enough to get by and stay alive if you need to. The method is rather simple. You just need to soak up the dew from plants with a cloth in the morning. Then wring the cloth out into a container.

The above-mentioned methods of water collection will, if properly implemented, provide you with all the water you need to effectively run your home. Collecting water is only part of the equation, it still needs to be treated or purified and then safely stored.

Chapter Three

Water Treatment

Once you have decided on how you are going to provide your homestead with water, you'll need a way to ensure it is clean enough to safely use. Water can be purified in several ways. Common methods include using chemicals such as bleach or iodine to kill infectious agents, various filtration devices to remove impurities (including viruses, bacteria, protozoa etc.) and boiling or otherwise heating the water to destroy dangerous contaminants.

Most of the time a mixture of chemical treatment, filtration and applying heat is necessary to provide you with water that is fit to be consumed. Filtering water is often the first step and may even be done a few times before everything is said and done. Rainwater is notorious for being filled with plant and animal debris, and filtration devices are usually built into the gutters and containers to cut down on the amount of sticks and dead bugs you find. Electric filtration devices are available, and it would be a good idea to think about purchasing one. Water purification is not a good area to cut budgetary corners on. Hand-held water filtration devices are also available, but they are not capable of handling high volumes of water and are unfit for meeting the needs of an entire household and/or small farming operation.

You can also make your own water filter for when you are in an emergency situation or as a fun science project for you and any kids. Constructing your own water filter is a good way to see how the whole process works. To make a water filter you will need:

Two Containers - Five-gallon water bottles or a similar container is an excellent choice. One of these containers will hold the filtering agents and the unfiltered water, the other is to capture the filtered water as it drips from the filter container.

Rocks - These will form the base of your filter and will be placed at the bottom of your filtration container. They will need to be heated in a fire first.

Sand - This is the next layer of filtering material you'll be adding this on top of the rocks.

Charcoal - You can use commercially available charcoal or burn some wood in a fire until it is black and charred, then smash it into a fine powder. Both are acceptable methods of acquiring charcoal.

A Fire-  You'll need this to heat your works and possibly burn some wood for charcoal.

Silver - Either fine dust like particles or old silver coins will do. In the United States, coins minted prior to 1964 are made mostly of silver and will work just fine for this project. Silver has strange chemical properties that make it effective at destroying microorganisms and harmful bacteria. You'll be adding the silver dust (or old coins) to the top few layers of charcoal.

Constructing a Water Filter

Take one of the containers and poke a series of tiny holes in the bottom.

Heat your rocks until they are glowing and allow them to cool. Once sufficiently cool add them to the bottom of your container.

Add a Layer of sand, pack it down as best you can.

Begin to add layers of charcoal with the goal of filling the container. Be sure to add some silver coins or dust to the layers of charcoal near the container's top.

Once constructed, pour some unfiltered water into the filter and allow it to drip down and out the bottom into the other container. Remember, never use your filtered water container for unfiltered water.

Filtering water is an effective method for removing bacteria and protozoa, but many viruses are small enough to slip through many common filter types. Using a filter to remove debris and cut down on microscopic organisms is a practical first step and a good start, but you'll almost certainly want to use another method in conjunction with it.

Using chemicals to treat and purify water is standard practice. Nearly everyone is familiar with the use of chlorine to keep a swimming pool's water clean and clear.

Chlorine is nothing more than common household liquid bleach and can, in small amounts, be used to purify water and make it suitable for drinking.

Iodine, most familiar as a topical antiseptic for minor cuts, is also an effective way to purify water.

A Method of Using Bleach to Purify Drinking Water

Make sure the water is at least sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit.

Add one-half teaspoon bleach to every five gallons of water. If the water is exceptionally cloudy, add a teaspoon to every five gallons.

Cover the water and leave it alone. In a few hours check on it.

If the water is clear and the smell has a faint hint of bleach, the water is suitable for consumption. If it isn't, repeat steps two and three once more. If the water is still cloudy or doesn't smell faintly of bleach, then you'll have to give up on it and find another source of water.

Purifying Water With Iodine

Make sure the water is at least sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit.

Add eight drops of iodine for every half gallon of water. If the water is exceptionally cloudy, add twice that amount.

Cover the water and leave it alone. In a few hours check on it.

If the water is clear, you're in luck! Your water is now ready for use. If it isn't, dispose of it. It's not healthy to add any more iodine.

A Solar Still

A solar still is a device that mimics the rain cycle. It's a container that is filled with water and allowed to sit in the sun. The sunlight evaporates the water and forces it to condense on a glass or plastic surface. The evaporated water condenses on this surface and becomes purified in the process. Solar stills are commonly used for feed water.

Using Heat

The final method of water purification is to simply boil it. There aren't too many contaminants that can withstand being boiled for longer than ten minutes or so.

Once your are familiar with the best way to clean and purify your water, the final step is properly storing it. It's a simple process and thankfully much easier than digging a well or treating your water.

Chapter Four:

Storing Your Water

Properly storing your collected and treated water is a simple process. It entails nothing more than procuring suitable containers, sanitizing them and making sure they are in a safe place. If a container can be sanitized and hold water without leaking or letting in debris, it can probably be safely used to store water.

Glass jars and jugs make good containers for small amounts of water.

Plastic containers are also commonly used and acceptable for storing water. Just make sure they are made of a type of material deemed "Food Grade".

Barrels and steel drums are useful for storing large amounts of water in one container. Usually, these types of storage devices are capable of holding in excess of fifty gallons of water. Hot water heaters can also be used in this manner.

If you need to keep a large amount of drinking water on hand, consider a water tank. This is an investment in time, money, and requires a permanent structure on your land but is a real option for many situations.

Make sure you clean and sanitize any containers before using them for water storage. A thorough cleaning to remove any dirt and visible grime is the first step. Once your containers have been washed and scrubbed with soap and hot water the next step is to sanitize them. Either hot boiling water or a sanitizing solution can be used for the second step. A sanitizing solution such as alcohol will work just fine on most types of material.

Once your containers have been sanitized and dried out, you're ready to fill them with water!

Running a homestead is no easy task and providing it with enough water to function is one of the primary concerns of every homesteader - both experienced and new to the lifestyle. Once this issue has been properly resolved, you can focus your time and attention on other areas, knowing that you have overcome one of the most difficult hurdles to getting off the grid- becoming responsible for your own water needs.

Conclusion

Thank you again for purchasing this book! I hope you have enjoyed it and are feeling prepared to handle whatever comes your way while setting up a water supply and storage system for your homestead. Now that you have explored your water supply options it is time to devise a plan as to which method or methods make sense for your situation. Once you have estimated your water needs and decided on how you will gather, treat and store your water you can begin implementing your plans by starting to work on a well and setting up your storage area. It won't be long before you are up and running!

Off the grid living is difficult and involves doing almost everything "the hard way" but there is a reward. The reward is knowing that you did it all by yourself, on your own. Your water, in addition to shelter, food and electricity are all yours by your effort alone. It's a satisfying and simple way to live, even though it may seem rough at times. The freedom and self-satisfaction inherent in this lifestyle makes a few difficult days of digging a well seem like a fair trade off for living life on your own terms.

Good luck! Happy Homesteading

Other Related Books

Tiny Houses: Think Small! An Introduction to Tiny House Living   (2nd Edition)

The Water Collection Handbook: A Guide To Collecting, Treating, and Storing Water

Off the Grid 101: An Introduction to Living A Self-Sustaining Lifestyle (2nd Edition)

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