Doomsday prepping - domestic water

[BK911]

Doing some research to get off the domestic water grid.
Already have a well, so step one is done.
Considering a solar powered well pump.
Many available over a pretty big price span.
Average unit is about $2k.
That's a lot of years to break even, and the equipment may not last that long.
Anybody have any experience with any brands, systems, etc?

I may just install a hand pump and a large storage tank.
Power goes out and I run out of water, I can manually pump the tanks water level back up and hand pump the air pressure inside the tank back up.

Anybody have any other ideas?

[MotoSook]

Get a swimming pool.

[vonsmog]

I am on well water and loose power more than once a year for more than a few hours. I just plug in the generator and all is well. Have power for the whole house as well. I am now looking at getting a diesel generator, since I now make my own Biodiesel and have about 50-100+ gallons on hand at all times.
I do have a buddy who has a hunting camp that is completely off of the grid. He uses solar to charge up a bank of 8 deep cycle batteries and has a inverter that powers the whole camp. Has a small generator for backup or when the solar panels are snow covered.

[MotoSook]

Or a generator and propane tank. Doesn't have to be a big generator and you can use the generator to power your house (the essential).

[74-911]

Originally Posted by BK911

Anybody have any other ideas?

At our previous house we had well water only - no power, no water. Because we lived in hurricane country I had a gas generator (6500W). I wired a connection at the pump where I could cut off the electric power and plug the pump into the generator. On the few occasions we lost power for any length of time I just fired up the generator when we needed water and had water as usual.

Note: our well pump ran off a different meter than the house and the pump house was about 30 yards from the house which made this about the only solution.

[Cajundaddy]

Why not just an old school windmill well pump? When the wind blows, it fills the tank. Gravity feed to the house. Butt simple and reliable.

[Taz's Master]

What resources do you have and what are your needs? If you want to turn on the tap and be able to drink, clean and bathe, you need to power your well pump and pressurize your domestic water source. For a few hours, a gas generator, days, probably propane, indefinitely, solar power.

I have a spring with a 1000 gallon holding tank. I need a pump tp pressurize my system. The tank's overflow provides a supply of drinking water. We fill drink coolers when bad weather is predicted, and 5 gallon buckets for flushing toilets. You can heat water on the stove for washing dishes. But bathing presents a difficulty.

If you have a source of surface water (stream, pond or pool), a bucket will allow you to flush toilets (shut off the supply, and fill the tank with the bucket). Drinking water could become an issue if you are without power for an extended time. Depending on how deep your well is, a hand pump may or may not be a reasonable option. Without pressurized water, bathing will probably be a bucket of hot soapy water and a washcloth. Washing clothes would entail a tub, heating lots of water and drying racks/clothes line.

If a long term elictrical issue (months) were to befall me, I would look at developing a spring on adjoining property and using gravity to pressurize my domestic water supply. Then maybe a gas tankles water heater with a pilot light?

[BK911]

Thanks guys.
Some reason I never even thought about a generator.
10kw would probably do for essentials and more.
I have natural gas at the house.
Natural gas with propane backup? ~$3k
Portable gas generator with NG/propane conversion kit? ~$1.5k
Both plus wire, panels, breakers, etc...

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by BK911

I may just install a hand pump and a large storage tank.

My grandparents never had running water. They had a hand pump, but no large storage tank, so I wonder what you need that for. I would use the lowest effective technology I could get my hands on.

[pete3799]

I assume gravity is not an option........how deep is the well?

[fintstone]

Gravity is a good low tech solution. If you have an elevated tank on posts, in the loft of a barn, your attic, etc, you can keep it filled when you have power available (solar, wind, generator, hand pump) by pumping water up into it...and using gravity for pressure when using it. That also allows you to be quiet and still have water when zombies are about...and fill the tank when you are are alert and your perimeter is up (planning). Might also consider leaving an option open for diverting gutters/rain water into the tank if necessary. Showers and toilets on a different circuit than drinking water is a good solution too...if you need to use water that is suspect and cant treat all. Don't want to be too obvious about what you have when there are not many resources available.

I personally have installed A 1000 gal LP tank underground that will run a propane generator for a long time. After that...I guess a hand pump will have to do. Depending on the severity of the situation...you would want to assess how much energy you could afford to spend heating water to shower, etc...as it might be a long time before you could resupply.

If you use a large tank, you can fill it very slowly and empty it (use the water) rapidly. If you are doing this just to save money on water bills...a small portable generator and a large tank is probably the trick. Even a small windmill or waterwheel will run the size pump needed for a slow fill. a handpump like this will fill a large tank pretty easily:
Excelsior E2

[Bill Douglas]

There are rainwater collection tanks that each time it rains the new stuff goes to the bottom and the older stuff is pushed out the overflow. That way it is reasonably fresh.

[Rot 911]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

My grandparents never had running water. They had a hand pump, but no large storage tank, so I wonder what you need that for. I would use the lowest effective technology I could get my hands on.

This. If you are talking real doomsday, power out for weeks or longer, you are eventually going to run out of fuel.

[JavaBrewer]

Originally Posted by BK911

I may just install a hand pump and a large storage tank.
Power goes out and I run out of water, I can manually pump the tanks water level back up and hand pump the air pressure inside the tank back up.

Anybody have any other ideas?

Not better than yours.

[MotoSook]

Originally Posted by BK911

I have natural gas at the house.

You think when the comet hits, the guys operating the pipeline to get gas to you house will be worried about maintaining service to your house?

[MotoSook]

Add a Hand Pump to an Electric Well - DIY - MOTHER EARTH NEWS

[red-beard]

Originally Posted by BK911

Doing some research to get off the domestic water grid.
Already have a well, so step one is done.
Considering a solar powered well pump.
Many available over a pretty big price span.
Average unit is about $2k.
That's a lot of years to break even, and the equipment may not last that long.
Anybody have any experience with any brands, systems, etc?

I may just install a hand pump and a large storage tank.
Power goes out and I run out of water, I can manually pump the tanks water level back up and hand pump the air pressure inside the tank back up.

Anybody have any other ideas?

First, what size pump/motor do you have? What is your water usage? If you want, I can help you look at a system.

[MotoSook]

The more I think about the manual hand pump installed at or near the well head the more I like it. Simple Pump also makes a pump with a 12 or 24 VDC motor to run off batteries or an inverter (if your main pump craps out). The depth of your water table is a big factor.

Hand Water Pump or Motorized, by SIMPLE PUMP

I would love to put a manual pump on my well, but the water is 400 feet down! That makes it hard to lift water manually. Hopefully your water isn't down as deep.

[red-beard]

The way I would do it:

Replace motor with 3 Phase 230VAC (~245). Buy a small VFD (~$250), and a pressure transmitter. This will help reduce your energy usage and not require a large pressurization tank. The system will speed up and slow down the motor depending on your usage.

For off-grid operation, Solar Panel, Battery Bank and Inverter. You can use this for much more than just the water pump.

[dennis in se pa]

Re; Get a swimming pool - how would you effectively and simply remove the over chlorination?