Locating and Installing a Water Source
Log Cabin Building Tip: Locating and Installing a Water Source
for your Log Cabin
Water is one of the most important things that you will need for
your camp. It can be the hardest or the easiest thing to find. A
clear lake and a bucket is the cheapest way you'll be able to get
a good supply. It is important that the water you use be free
from harmful bacteria. Taste is no substitute for a test of good
drinking water.
Local health authorities are usually willing to test the water
for you. Other agencies that will tell you whether the water is
suitable include State Health Departments, County Health Offices,
and Health Hygienic Laboratories.
Now let's get back to the problem of how we're going to get
running water into your camp without depending upon some leaks in
the roof. Water can be obtained from a dug well, a bored well, a
drilled well, or from surface sources such as lakes, springs, or
cisterns.
A dug well is usually used where rocky soil prohibits the use of
a driven well, and where water can be reached by simple
excavation. Basically it is a hole in the ground. Perhaps the
first thing to do in building a dug well is to inquire from your
neighbors whether they have used this type of water source.
If their report is satisfactory, you should start considering the
best location for such a well. Be sure that it is located at
least 100 feet from your sewage system and drain field. It should
also be located on higher ground.
Having found the best location, start digging a hole about 4 feet
in diameter. As you dig, be sure that you use cross braces to
keep the upper earth in place. Eventually you will (maybe) reach
water. The lower section of the well should be lined with brick
or stone. Do not use mortar.
You want a pervious wall that will let water in. The upper part
of the wall must be water-tight to prevent contamination. This
wall should be about 10 feet high and extend about I foot above
the ground. If you can install your pump within 22 feet vertical
distance of the normal water level, use a shallow-well jet.
Reciprocating, or centrifugal pump lifts greater than 22 feet
(sea level) will require a deep-well jet or reciprocating pump.
In the illustration you will note that the upper 10 feet of the
dug well is filled with earth. A watertight slab is placed over
the pervious lower section. If you use this type of construction,
be sure to include a pipe sleeve large enough to install the
water pipe and foot valve.
Also install a vent pipe. Cast some hooks in the slab so that you
will have something to hold on to as you lower it into place. It
will be heavy. This type of well is similar to a dug one, except
that instead of digging a large hole, you dig one of small
diameter. A well borer or earth auger is used to make a hole down
to water level.
This system works best in firm sand, clay, or light gravel. The
borer looks like a double shovel and has a handle about 4 feet
long. As you go down, additional lengths of pipe are added to the
handle. Digging is done by forcing the borer into the ground and
twisting the handle. As the double shovel is filled, lift the
earth out and empty. Keep going till you reach water.
When you find water, line the hole with large steel pipe or
vitrified tile. Use an internal grapple to lower each section of
tile into the hole. This lining should extend a little above
ground to keep out surface water. Use a concrete platform at the
top as shown in the illustration. The size and type of pump that
can be used with this system is the same as with the dug well
described before
About the Author
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.