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Water sources to consider when building your own log cabin
Jack Hudson
Lakes, springs, ponds, and streams are always possible sources
for a water supply. The most important thing to remember about
them is that they must be pure enough for drinking. Do have the
water tested before you use it. In many parts of our country it
is possible that you will find springs bubbling up through the
ground on your property. Be sure that the spring is going to
yield enough water.
Build a small dam around the area. Use a pail of known capacity
and bail out the water. By measuring the time and amount of
water, you will have an idea of whether you've got a sufficient
supply of water. Let's say that you can fill a 5-gallon can every
30 minutes. In one hour you will have (5 X 60/30) 10 gallons. In
24 hours you will have 240 gallons.
This is enough for the average cottage. Each person in a
household usually requires about 40 gallons per day. By cutting
around the surface area and removing the earth, it is usually
possible to make a catch basin for your spring. Line the edges
with pervious material such as brick or stone.
The area above the basin should be made of watertight concrete so
that surface water will not run into the spring. Cover the top
with a concrete cap. The basin will always be fed by the spring,
we hope, so you'll want an overflow pipe in the wall. The foot
strainer or suction end of your feed pipe should extend through
the watertight part of your basin and be located well below the
overflow pipe.
It is usually possible to use a shallow-well pump with this type
of installation. If there is at least 2 feet of drop away from
your water source and a sufficient supply of water, it may be
possible to use a hydraulic ram to pump your water up to a tank
and then feed your cottage by gravity.
A cistern is not the most desirable way of collecting water. But
in some localities it may be the only method. The illustration
shows one type of installation. Roof water is collected by a
system of gutters and leaders that empties the water into a
filter unit containing a 2-inch layer of coarse gravel, a 6-inch
layer of crushed charcoal, and an 18-inch layer of fine sand.
The water filters through the various layers and empties into a
larger tank, where it is stored. If this system is used, it may
be necessary to chlorinate the water occasionally. With ponds,
lakes, and streams it is only necessary to run a pipe into the
water. The foot valve or suction end of the pipe should be
protected so that it will not clog or suck mud or silt from the
bottom.
Also be sure that the pipe does not run near the place where
you're going to swim. Any type of shallow-well pump will probably
be satisfactory. A water source which is not satisfactory for
drinking might be pumped to the cottage for bathing and other
services. Drinking water might be had from some other source.
Once you've found the best source for water, the next problem
will be to get the water into your cottage. You may use anything
from a hand pump to a number of different types of power-driven
equipment. There are any number of good pumps that you can buy.
Let's look at some of the different types of installations. Jet
pumps are very popular. The shallow-well type will pump water
where the water level is not lower than 22 feet below the pump. A
deep-well jet can be used to get water more than 100 feet below
the surface of the earth. Both of these pumps can be offset from
the water source.
A shallow-well jet requires only one pipe. The main parts of
this pump are the motor, shaft, and impeller. Most of these pumps
have a priming chamber, but after the pump is in operation, they
do not require further priming. These pumps also have a pressure
switch that starts the motor when the pressure in the tank drops
to 20 pounds and stops when the pressure reaches 40 pounds.
A deep-well jet pump is similar to a shallow-well unit in
appearance. However, two pipes are required with this system--a
pressure pipe and a suction pipe--but a special adapter will be
necessary at the top of the casing. The use of the well casing as
a suction pipe is usually done when the casing is as small as 2
inches.
When you buy your pump, you will find specific instructions
included with the unit. Follow these instructions explicitly--the
manufacturer knows what his pump is capable of doing.
Reciprocating pumps are of two different types. The piston type,
which is usually mounted on a storage tank, can be used to do any
of the jobs that a shallow-well jet pump will do.
The deep-well reciprocating pump is one that must be mounted over
the well. Piston-type pumps will raise water from a source not
lower than 22 feet below the level of the pump. No cylinder or
rod extends into the water source. The pump can be offset from
the well. Only one pipe is required.
There are more moving parts in this type of pump than in the jet.
Deep-well reciprocating pumps have a rod that extends from a
crosshead or eccentric in the pump to a plunger in the well
casing. As the pump operates, a rod which moves up and down lifts
the water from the well. It can be used to pump water from 250
feet below the surface of the earth.
The casing of such a pump is usually 2 inches in diameter. TANKS
The type of tank used with any of the above installations is
usually constructed of heavy steel and has welded seams. The
entire tank is galvanized. Storage tanks used with power
equipment should have a minimum storage capacity of 15 gallons.
The tank helps to supply pressure to the water stored in it, thus
causing the water to flow from the taps.
About the Author:
Jack Hudson is a writer for
http://www.log-cabin-plans-n-kits.com and
http://www.best-house-n-home-plans.com/. These two sites work
collectively as a resouce for the planning and building of log
cabins as well as choosing from different house plans. Visit one
of these sites for informative articles as well as free TIPS for
building a log home or choosing a house plan.
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