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Preparing for this Fall (Read: this ain’t over)
Aug
01
Here I sit, dead in the water (or without water). Every tap in the house is dry and I’ve got a well tech coming out in a few hours to tell me how much money this is going to cost me, I’m guessing somewhere between 1-2k [update: $2400] because these things are never cheap. I’ve gone through about 15 gallons already this morning flushing the toilet a few times, washing some dishes, making coffee and filling up the solar shower that is currently baking in the sun so that I can at least have a relatively warm experience on the back deck. These days people tend to focus on the fancy preps like guns and ammo, or dare I even say toilet paper…with a couple cases of Costco water storage because hey it’s a given that water will always flow when the tap is turned right? Not necessarily true my friends.
The Military Experience
Being self reliant when it comes to water is nothing new in the military, hauling around what we would use to drink with and do personal hygiene with is a common experience. Bottles of water for drinking and cooking, larger 5 gallon jugs for bathing and other functions. Never really had to worry about filling up toilet tanks (read: there were no toilets) as simply burying the waste was the preferred method. I suppose even though it was a little Spartan there was always water to be had, the supply chain always came through and we never even questioned how much we were using or where it came from. This as opposed to where I am now, there is no supply chain and unlimited supply but rather what I have in the ground. As I have found, once that system is disrupted it’s total reliance on a 3rd party provider to come out to diagnose and repair whatever it is that might be wrong.
Two Times Without Water
This is the second time a house has run dry and both times the experience was similar in that it became very apparent how much actual water is used during the course of a normal day. This because I had to haul it all by hand in order to use it as opposed to flipping a tap on and watching it flow. The first time was back in the Midwest when for whatever reason our water was shut off by the city for a few days, the second time is right here and now. We are so used to the convenience of water and so conditioned to it just being there on demand, I have to admit a few times I’ve turned the tap without thinking expecting water to flow and it hasn’t. Being on a well and having backup power to run the well pump in the form of a generator I would expect that I’d be in a better position than those on city water, but today is a great example of even the best plans going south. Maybe my well pump has actually failed and as that thing is 500 feet into the ground I have no way to diagnose it. Hopefully it’s one of those instances where the tech comes out and does a few things and I’m back online (here’s a bill for $75) but we all know rarely is it that simple. This house is 22 years old and last time they were out to perform a check they told me the only way to really know when a pump goes bad is when it dies…fantastic. Is today the day?
Storage Considerations
I think it’s important to address water storage considerations and frame it up in terms of layers for different purposes. Having pallets of water bottle storage is great but who wants to stand over a toilet dumping little bottles of water in the tank to flush? Here’s where I’m at with storage:
Outside Emergency Water: Between our large fountain and the hot tub, probably 800 gallons or so. I consider this last resort type water that we could pull from in a truly SHTF experience. We would have to filter or boil it for use but at least it’s there if need be.
55 Gallon Drums: Great for water storage indoors (like a garage or basement) and I have mine labeled with the last time I filled and treated the containers. The ability to store large quantities of water is there but it is anything but portable, I have a dedicated hand pump to transfer water from these vessels to other containers.
Water Bricks: I bought 10 or so of these a while back and have used them in the past, they even have a separate cap with a twist spigot that makes things easy. Water bricks are nice and portable at 3.5 gallons each and are easy to stack. However you do have to source them online and they aren’t exactly cheap at $180 for 10 (current pricing as of this article). I’ve found the spigot is the best way to use them for dishes or hygiene, if using for a shower one has to hold the brick up for the other person so not exactly optimal.
5 Gallon Jugs: These are readily available at just about any supermarket, the kind with the handle that you exchange out near the sliding doors for maybe $5 or so. I have 4 of these in the garage (in addition to several other 7 gallon containers) and have already gone through almost 3 this morning, it goes quick. I have found that these are great for filling up toilet tanks or larger things like the solar shower I previously mentioned. The good thing about these is that they are easy to transport and available just about most places and do not cost much to exchange / refill. The fact that they aren’t purpose built to be stackable means a little more storage space but no big deal.
Water Bottles: Pretty much the staple of convenient storage and also cheap, water bottle storage is nice to have on hand. This morning I’ve been using little bottles to wash my hands and brush my teeth, refill the coffee maker and more. I want to say 40 bottles at Costco is around $3, so having 5 to 6 packs stacked up is really easy to achieve. They are transportable but are in such small quantities that means lots of waste and filling up larger containers is a slow process.
The Creek: I suppose I should mention the creek as a final and ultimately last resort in my layer of water storage. The problem with the creek is that it is almost a mile from my place and over 1000′ drop in elevation down a pretty nasty goat trail. I’d have to hitch up a trailer to my ATV in order to haul water up from the creek, not exactly optimal but possible if things got really bad.
Final Thoughts
These days with CV and all of the other stuff going on, what we as preppers considered in theory has now become reality with respect to many things. Storage supplies have been exercised in some capacity, plans have been laid into place for job / income loss, awareness has been raised along with our threat level(s). With all that going on its easy to overlook some of the items that we consider essential to daily existence (and probably take for granted) like readily available water. Make sure your stash is diversified and robust enough to support your needs. This time will probably be a blow to my wallet but fixable…if this were more dire straights when a repair wasn’t a simple phone call away I could be in for a world of hurt. I’ll update this article here at the bottom once I do get things fixed.
UPDATE: Well pump died, quick diagnosis confirmed. Currently it’s getting replaced at the paltry sum of around $2500…ugh. The good news is that this happened during a time when technicians were able to come out and fix it and moving forward we’ll be good for a long time. The other prep lesson here is: you must have a backstop of emergency funds. While the cost isn’t great it’s nice to be able to write a check knowing it’s not going to crush us – or even worse having to put on a CC. We weren’t always like that so it’s truly a blessing.
I wish you well on the water problem.. I know the feeling about it. 12 years ago Earthquake took out my well went from 255 ft to 455 ft— took 3 months to get driller to my place..then huge bucks pay on time, since then i got old pump out. added a 12 volt pump (internet) & a (4D) battery to run it–for emergency ,new 12 volt pump @ 70 ft- at the surface i have 90PSI ..2.1 gal minuit.works for me ,added 4 gal exp tank & few valves i can jump from 12 volt one to Grid piping system. if grid fails.
keebler
Good stuff, glad to hear I’m not alone in my misery! Even out here in the mountains we like to think we are as about a detached as we can be from “needing” things but truth be told we are still beholden to the basic needs.
Good article.
Can you provide specs on your new pump?
Also, how the $2500 bill broke out between labor and materials.
We have a well in good working order, but with China supply chain impacted, thinking I might buy an extra to stockpile for the day when mine dies.
Jeff-
I looked up the model # and this is the pump they used.
https://www.lockewell.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=2405
1 HP – 5 GPM – 230 Volts – 1 Phase – 22 Stage – 2 Wire
They charged me $1700 for the pump, the rest was a weekend trip fee and labor (3 hours worth). One might be thinking, cost on the pump is $700 and they charged $1700??? However I get it, outside of labor they have their margins in order to keep things profitable and to cover overhead. Not like I had a big truck with a 30 foot crane to be able to pull that thing out of the ground and replace it. Gotta pay to play especially in remote areas.
Good post. I put a pump handle on my well, in case the pump went out. Although my well is not as deep as yours. I keep a 750 gallon rain barrel filled as one backup option (unfortunately we usually don’t get enough rain to keep it filled, so I occasionally have to top of off from a hose). You’re right. You’re much, much more likely to need water than guns and ammo.
I’m with you on the rain barrel, we just don’t get enough to keep it filled although I might look into some alternative things. If putting a handle on mine was an option I would surely do it.
Had a well pump hit by lightning once. Got it replaced fairly quick! Have lived in many a home with a well! Wish I had one now. Our water source comes from the water monopoly that actually pumps sorry water from wells spaced out on our road. Got irrigation from the lake. Was just
looking at a Big Berkley last night. Tiny house living so not much storage for cases of bottled water that is not in heat of garage. Going to check out temperature of crawl space. Heat here in east GA, unbearable right now.
Got my supplies beefed up and inventoried! So glad to get that done. Alaska Prepper site gave me good info on canning, vacuum sealing & storing. He mentioned blight on olive trees in Italy. Olive oil I usually pay about $9.00 for is now $16.00. Looking for canning jars now!
Getting some meds that will work for humans from veterinarian friend.
Feel good about my first aid supplies after a couple of purchases.
CV second wave hitting everywhere.
I’m convinced we are headed for an internal war here in the USA. Not scared, just staying put & getting ready.
Sorry to hear about your well woes! Hopefully an easy fix.
Stay safe & stay well!
I never knew about the Olive Oil thing, makes sense on the pricing. I think we are in for a big fall with respect to CV fallout and shenanigans, glad I could get the well serviced now as opposed to later. Lastly- Berkey makes great stuff, I have plenty of their products.
great news on the well pump.
keebler
If you are putting in a water system or modifying an existing system consider burying a large cistern. Living in the Rocky Mountain west water is always a consideration. We purchased a home with a good working well. The previous owners had a 1,800 gallon cistern they had installed to water their live stock. It was tied into to the well system but was kept off line when they got rid of the ponies. We seen this as a perfect SHTF solution and keep it on line as a buffer to the well. We draw our domestic water from the cistern and the well keeps it full. For the two of us normal usage we can empty it in about 18 days.
We have also informed the local fire department of it’s location for local emergencies. They can go through 1,800 gallons very quickly but the appreciate every drop they can get.
I also keep a 100 gallon tank of potable water filled in my pickup under a tool topper during the warm fire season. Just used it to supply my kids with water for three days when their well pump was taken out by lightening. I keep it loaded with water when above freezing, but empty during the winter months and have an account at a local municipality for water that is available all year. I think it was a $200 investment the has really provided piece of mind.
We capture and store the legal limit of 110 gallons of rain water from our roofs during the warm months,
Two creeks on our property are our last water options. In Colorado it is illegal to use the water as every drop is accounted for in 135 years of water rights documents, but if the SHFT I don’t think they’ll be checking the ledger 😀
John
Good stuff on the cistern, never considered that but definitely a nice option. As you stated, water is everything and I doubt anyone will be checking that ledger come SHTF.
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