TOTM June 2016- Water

We also have three sources of water. There is a spring fed creek that enters our lake in my neighbors yard. I have a well and there is the lake itself. The lake water would need to be filtered and boiled. But for now it can be used for toilet water and cleaning. I have a good long term Generator plan to run our pump. The spring would be second choice for drinking water. We have a good supply of filter straws should we need to filter creek or lake water somewhere else as in bugged out. We took water very seriously when we moved here. Not only is water needed for us but for animals both tame and wild. A lake is a living pantry.

 

Hot off the Wire. Texas Counties with Flood Problems.

 

Sources of water are numerous around here (SE LA)...well is around 900' deep, but water pushes up to about 12 feet below ground level. Only requires a simple shallow well pump (with a backup ready to go,) solar power to back that up along with generators. If that doesn't do the trick, there is a hand pump plumbed into the system that requires turning two valves to use. Or walk a little bit and uncap an artesian well that flows many gpm. Drums of water, cases of water, Berkey, Lifestraws...and unscented bleach and bleach tablets for chemical purification. Boiling can be accomplished with electric, propane, gasoline, kerosene or wood. I could catch rainwater, but it really isn't necessary.

 

Too bad, they can't run a few thousand siphons from texas to california. Fill up a few of those empty reservoirs and lakes. They need it, and you don't want it.

 

Where might be a good resource to find the answer to the "if its legal to collect rain water"?

 

You might start here but check with your local laws by secondary sources.

Rainwater harvesting regulations state by state | Rain water harvesting and slow sand water filters

 

Excellent resource, @kellory.

In most states you can collect rainwater from your gutters and downspouts into rain barrels. Where the laws start to get more complicated is when you attempt to divert rainwater into underground cisterns or larger storage tanks...or lord forbid pipe it into your house like I have. Check your state laws there.

I spent 4 years on the board of directors of a municipal water utility in New Mexico and got a decent 'education' from our manager and some of the permanent board members concerning water rights law. The rule-of-thumb I learned when it comes to rain water is, if you catch it before it hits the ground and store it in non-permanent containers (ie barrels rather than cisterns or tanks), you're probably OK...but once the water hits the ground you can't divert or store it it unless you have groundwater rights. In the southwest, water law is not only complicated....wars have been fought over it.

 

I picked up a 55 gallon rain drum Wednesday from the parish...Free!!!
They encourage the usage of catching rain water here.

 

Kellory stolen link from here
Broker put together a wile list of water resources that have been posted on the monkey over the years

TOTM June 2016- SM Water Resources | Survival Monkey Forums

 

No ma'am, if you actually read the links, you would see differences. I did a google search. Myself.

 

Illegal now means nothing after the SHTF. Build a rain catchment system and store it.

 

I would like to do an under ground cistern, you know that way it's hidden.
And I am also in NM.
But can do rain barrels if I had to.

 

Whatever it takes, water is life.

 

@Tully Mars
"...This one is 8 5/8" well casing going down a bit over 300'. We got the pump @ Harbor Freight for about 40 bux. It will only lift 30'..."
I'm confused here. Your water is 300 feet down but your pump will only lift 30 feet?

We have 1500 gallon underground cistern. We share a 450 foot well with neighbors which concerns me but that is how the place was built. At the next meeting, I am going to bring up the lack of an alternate power source to the well which I think will fall on deaf ears but...gotta try. I suppose I could drill my own but pretty costly to go down 450 feet.

We also are right across the road from huge state park that surround the biggest lake in the state so in a pinch we could haul water and filter it.

So, not a perfect situation but we have only been here a year and we have got a lot done in that time period but still have a lot to do.

 

It's not the depth of the well that you need to consider when pumping, but rather where the water level is within the casing. Clear as mud?

 

No. I know nothing about this... So, I assume the water pressure pushes the water up the casing (the pipe) to within 30 feet of the surface so your pump can move it, right? How do you know how far up the water comes? Do you drop a line down it or...?

 

Well casing goes down to over 300 feet. the water level currently is @ about 20 feet below the surface. So, the hand pump will pull the water to the surface which works for now as a back up source. Plans are for a solar set up in the future with a "real" pump. This well is a back up. Hope this helps clear it up a bit.

 

you should be ok as long as you don't substantially interfere with the normal runoff.

Here is a good resource for New Mexico:
Rainwater Harvesting - Water Conservation: NM Office of the State Engineer