question on wells VS very long water line

Words of a tried-and-true city person.

Admittedly the cost of drilling a well can be high, but 1000 ft or so of water line (crossing 2 creeks) installed and what the water company charges for a meter isn't cheap - would bet that the cost is similar. The cost of replacement for pump and pressure tank is minimal when spread over the lifetime of the item, probably similar or less than monthly water bill. The only cost I can see that might run the cost of having your own water up much above city water is treatment and that is depenent on what you want to attain.

Now, consider where the city water comes from - most water companies get their water from surface water (rivers/lakes) where everyone upstream has dumped their sewage. I'd much rather drink from a well than from the end of somebody else's $#!+ pipe. All the water company does is filter out the lumps and add all sorts of chemicals to try to kill the pathogens. Don't give me that crap about "if it wasn't safe, the government wouldn't let them do it" - find out where your water comes from and what's being put into it, then read up on the chemicals and consider how much sewage is in it. Might not be so happy with your city water after all. Remember, what's toxic to bacteria and such is also toxic to the cells that it comes in contact with in your body . What damage is it doing over time?

The supposed excessive cost of a backup generator to have well water during an outage, mentioned in another post, is just silly. A generator provides other uses beside just pumping water. You can have power well away from the house if needed (mine has gotten the most usage in this way), and during outages, run your (gas) furnace to keep warm in winter, use lights, run the water heater for hot showers and keep the stuff in the fridge and freezer from spoiling. Probably would be a 10 year payback if you just consider pumping water, but the other things (particularly preventing food spoilage and convenience) can cut deep into that payback time - particularly if you had to rent a generator to do some work (like constructing an outbuilding) away from the house.

As for sewer being the best alternative, proper care of a septic system drastically increases the length of time that a drainfield lasts so that replacement cost is spread over 20-30 years, possibly even more depending on soil type. The amount of time between pumpouts can be increased with proper care and by installing a larger tank than the local authorities require - they base their calculations on the number of bathrooms and, to my knowledge, have no allowance for other water-using appliances. Tanks come in standard sizes, just go up one or more sizes from what's recommended. When I had my tank pumped after 7 years (new system and had it pumped to help figure timeframe for pumpouts), splitting the cost over the time period gives $2.38 per month and the fella told me to wait 10-12 years to call again. Never had a sewer bill, but I bet the monthly bill is somewhat more.

All in all, I see the cost of city water/sewer quite comparable to well/septic moneywise in the case that the OP proposed. Being on a well and in control of your water supply so that YOU and ONLY YOU determine what, if any, chemicals are added is a great benefit.

Later, Mike (substitute strickland in the obvious location to reply directly)

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Reply to
Michael Strickland
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Not too far from you - western Douglas Co. Don't think zoning has anything to do with it. I think distance and topography will be the main factors taken into consideration. Call the county water company and ask. They can also tell you an approximate cost for installation of the water line ($X.xx/ft) and cost of the meter (IIRC was told that WSA wanted $200 for a meter when I built in '97). Might be able to help a little with the "homework" - would be happy to provide (via email) some specs and price of my well for comparison if you want, would think that depth, pump and tank would be similar. Prices are '97, but should give you a general idea that you can compare to any quotes you get from local drillers.

I recommend purchasing and burying the tank instead of renting and having above ground - if it's allowed. I understand some counties don't allow underground propane tanks. I've got a 500 gal underground and only have to see the hump part on the top of the tank where the fill pipe and pressure gauge are - easily disguised. If you're interested in the cost (Dec '97), email me by fixing the addy in the sig and I'll look it up for you.

FYI, depending on what you'll have on gas, and whether or not you want to sign up for monthly topoffs, you may want to go with a larger tank - may be able to give some pointers here too.

1 inch would probably work fine, but cost of installation of that length and crossing the creeks would be my concern. Also, if your local water company is like WSA (Douglas Co's Company), you'll be responsible for maintaining all the pipe on your side of the meter.

As I recall, for our part of the country, the recommended depth for water pipe is below 18" - although I think you could probably get by with a little less if absolutely necessary. Since you've already bridged the creeks, you may wind up with a large expense for special equipment to install the pipe in these locations. Make sure you bring this point up with the water company if they're iffy about signing off so you can get a drinking water well - provided you go that route. If necessary, insist that they have a representative visit the site.

Make sure of the regulations regarding burial of organics - Douglas Co. requires that any organic burial site be marked on the plat, which means a surveyor must determine the exact location and provide a new plat with the burial site marked - this plat must be recorded at the courthouse too, IIRC. Was explained to me that they don't want any construction to occur on an old burial site to prevent settling. Considering what some of the developers have done in the recent past, the regulation is probably a good idea.

Might be best to chip/mulch all that you don't cut for firewood or just leave it to rot in an out-of-the-way pile. The mulched stuff is good to spread along the sides of the drive until new growth can get started.

Great pix! Been there, done that (except the bridge) - lotsa good exercise .

Looks like a great location. I still have a quarter mile as the crow flies to the nearest neighbor for the moment - but that'll change in the not-too-distant future since subdivisions are sprouting like toadstools :-(

Later, Mike (substitute strickland in the obvious location to reply directly)

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Reply to
Michael Strickland

I know nothing about water, but can't you make pipe installation pretty easy, including the streams, by going next to the driveway? Or did you leave the trees right next to it (which I would understand, except they usually want to get wide housebuilding things in there, don't they?)

My girlfriend may have been a ditz, or just busy, but she told me for months that her well had dried up, and I guess she was taking water from work to her home, but eventually it turned out the pump had broken.

Reply to
mm

BTW, why can't you get water from the creek? I live right next to a creek, and I've wondered if I could drink the water. I keep meaning to have it tested.

I guess the biggest problem woudl be upstream fertilizer, but maybe I would finally get taller.

Reply to
mm

no biggest risk is animal dies upstream in creek, your safe water is suddendly hazardous.

ground water should NEVER be used unless its continously treated.

stream water is excellent for irrigation and other nod potable uses

Reply to
hallerb

You are speaking in generalizations. Plenty of cities have wells for their water and it is as pure as can be. Some have excelllent sources of surface water and y es, it does require a bit more treatment.

I know plenty pf people with contaminated wells. "Everything from sulpher, to oil, to benzene to whatever. We hae a well at work that is not suitable for drinking and after spending $10,000, it is not suitable to feed the boilers either.

As for cost, you may drill and hit water at 50 feet, or 100 feet, or 500 feet, or never. You can get into some really serious costs in some areas.

Again, depends on where you live. In my last house, never had power out more than 1 hour in 15 years. This house, only once was it out more than an hour (about 30 hours after a hurricane) in 25 years. What would the payback be for me? Probably over 100 years. That would be just plain silly.

OK, you got me there. I'm paying almost $9 a month for sewer but have not had any problems either. I like that.

If only you were correct. You do NOT have any control over your water supply. You pump what is in the aquifer. Do you read the newspapers? Stories about hundreds of well being contaminated for one reason or another? Happens all too often. Yes, there are 100 year old wells that are good pure water, but there are 3 year old wells that will kill you.

Your situation is, evidently, is good for you, but the circumstances must be considered for every location on their own merits.

Reply to
Edwin Pawlowski

With a choice, I would opt for city water/sewer over well/septic, if I had a choice.

In situations where a very long line is run to get to city/county water, the question to ask yourself is how long will it be before a closer neighbor goes on city/county water?? Things have a way of creeping closer and closer to you.

I will build a new home soon and city water is not an option. 100 ft down or 600 feet down, water in this area has sulfur and varying amounts of dissolved limestone. Treatment for both will be required. Easy treatment for sulfur is to let the water aerate before use, that is pump into a tank that holds at least a day's worth of water, before going to a water softener that also treats sulfur and calcium/magnesium.

Drain fields are FORBIDDEN by county law here. Clay content of soil is so high and land is RULER flat. Septic effluent MUST be sprinkled.

Another way to have backup power is to add a solar array. This has the benefit of net metering so that with a proper sized array, the utility company sends you a small check each month. Course, this doesn't help during a hurricane or tornado that cuts power lines for hours to days. Only batteries or a generator will do that. Generator is MUCH cheaper to acquire and install. Solar has immediate impact on power bill.

Reply to
Robert Gammon

Even above ground tanks can be easily disguised. I painted mine brown and black and painted a face on it, and everyone things it is a cow.

Reply to
mm

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