Can we live without running water for a year??

Why on earth would lack of running water be considered abuse???
Even "neglect" would have to be quite a stretch...


So far as the OP's question, we're currently doing this (have been since June) and it works just fine. My kids are 8 and 10, btw.

Laundry is done at the laundromat, so there goes a LOT of water per week. But we do water five horses and three cows...
We also use a sawdust toilet. (It took a few days to get used to the idea of doing our business in a bucket, but once the first week was done, it was no big deal. Really. A distinct improvement actually from the outhouse.)

For water, we have a 1500 gallon poly tank ($500 @ Orscheln's) on a flatbed. DH fills it periodically at work, as needed. We carry water into the house in food-grade 5 gallon buckets, but we're planning on getting a second tank, pumping in to the holding tank and plumbing that directly into the house, water heater, etc.
In fact, we just got a small pressure tank/pump from Northern Tool for $120.

Currently we're just daylighting, but we're in the process of doing this exact same thing.


Honestly, it's no big deal. Inconvenient, occasionally...
For example, taking a shower means heating water on the stove and dumping it into our handy-dandy solar, camp shower bags. Obviously more planning than just jumping in and turning the knob. But it works.

So far as freezing up, not a concern, yet. Water retains a lot of heat (lake effect) and it has to get really cold, for a long time, before a large tank would freeze solid. Otherwise, the top freezes, but the outlets are the bottom.
The bigger concern is the outlets themselves freezing up. We have ours wrapped in heat-tape and then insulation.

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

Wow, your post just gave me great encouragement!! I have children who would be rather helpful, the little one is almost 3 so we are getting out of baby stage, but the older 2 are getting very helpful! I hope that my husband will read this so he can offer more questions

I am only too happy to help. You'll be surprised how much self-confidence as well as genuine self-sufficiency this type of thing gives you. Not to mention, what your kids learn without even intending to.

My 10 year old has been designing "forts" in his head lately. And every time he's scheming with solar or wind energy, a rainwater system of some sort, re-use for greywater, etc, etc. I don't think he's even considered the fact that most kids don't even think about that kind of thing, much less assume that they have to be incorporated into the plan! lol

Like I said, it IS inconvenient. But I can honestly say the blessings of the experience have far outweighed the inconvenience so far.

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~*~Erin~*~
SAHM, ranch wife, sub and quilt shop proprietress
the Back Gate Country Quilt Shop

Exactly!! Even if we end up buying land that already has a home, my hubby has promised to build a self sufficient cabin as well, with the kids help

We lived in Alaska for 4 years and 2 babies with no water (out of 25 years, altogether). A twin-size water bed fits exactly into the back of a pickup and can be filled with a hose from a friend's house. That's a lot of 5-gallon jugs you don't have to carry one by one. In Alaska, many of the laundromats have showers you can rent. Hey, a good, hot shower is better than going to the movies and doesn't cost as much! If you're near a park, it may have coin operated showers for that special treat.
At 4 years old, my DD decided that if what we had was an "outhouse," then what her grandma had must be an "inhouse."
Kit

I think it's a fabulous idea to live without the typical American home setup of "unlimited" water on tap -- especially with children. We have lived in a variety of situations over the years where we haven't had the typical water setup.

Hauling one's water (in whatever format) helps one to become very conservative and respectful of water. And that can be very beneficial in all sorts of ways if one wishes to live more sustainably.

We started out with no running water and using 3 gallon jugs for our basic needs in our travel trailer. We showered at the neighbor's place and did laundry in town at the laundromat.

Then we got a 12 volt pressure pump and a small solar power system. Our trailer had a 40 gallon fresh water tank that we filled up every so often via the neighbor's hose. That gave us running cold water.

Later came a simple solar hot water heater that was pressurized by the small 12 volt pump (they also come in 120v AC).

Today we have our own well but are only able to pump about 1 gallon per minute via our small solar powered well pump. Having lived in more water-constrained times taught us to be mindful and conservative with our water usage and that's made it possible for us to live with a much smaller well pump than most folks would be able to live with considering we raise most of our own meat and grow most of our own veggies as well as provide water for 3 adults that are here 24 / 7.

Not only is it possible to live with more primitive water setups -- the skills and habits formed as a result can benefit you and your family for many years to come.

Best of luck!!!

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Patrick Harris
http://ByExample.com

A very inspiring thread since we may be doing something similiar next year. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences

I did fine without running water from the spring of 77 til winter of 85 here in Ky, lots of freeze issues but its really odd, ice becomes a good water source in the winter. Its much easier to haul in chunks than in buckets or jugs. An added plus of dealing with the ice was storage.... just stack it up in the corner of the kitchen and thaw chunks as needed!

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"Nothing so needs reforming as other peoples habits." Mark Twain

A lot of the rv water pumps are 12 volt and has a pressure switch to turn it off and on. I know they make 110 volt ones but don't know about the switch to turn off when pressure is reached. You could plum you cabin for running water with a tank as they do rvs. My motor home had about a 55 gallon or so tank on it and it lasted us a week once on a road trip. Good luck and it can be done. Sam

Been there done that doing it again.
Its not that hard. For instance the average family uses about 200 gallons a day sounds huge but if your making a trip a day to town that's only a tank load in a half ton truck. Your likely to be far more frugal but don't skimp.
A pump either hand or 12 volt to a 55 gallon drum in the attic means you can turn a tap for water,have a ice maker in the fridge,take a shower and flush a toilet if you want.
A well close makes it cheaper,around here water is 50 cents for 100 gallons . A spring close to here attracts people from all over but allows you to fill a tank free!
The point should be to life as well or better than others on less,not to live miserably.
Oh and Id never say I don't have running water Id say I don't have public water.

For what it's worth, this family uses about 25 gallons of water per day, tops.
That's dishes, twice....hot baths for everyone who wants one and potable water, plus laundry every three days or so.
Now, that's the winter schedule.
Spring, summer and fall we might use more like an average of fifty, daily, all told.

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“I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue.” Barry Goldwater.
III

My mother was born on a farm in MN and lived there until either her late teens or early 20s. Later in her life one of my sisters had to give her a bath and she would fuss and fuss if they put more than about 2" of water in the tub.

My father lived in the Ozarks (outside of Mountain View, AR) for a couple of years in his early teens. I now regret all the time we spent fishing together and my not asking about his past history. For example, when the got there for the 'free land' all which was left was the hill tops. Have no idea what they did for water. He did say his father took a bath twice a year (even when living in Milwaukee), when he put on his longjohns for winter and when he took them off in the spring.

Hold the fort on collecting rain water till you read this.
Well wait till you read this~!!!
Obama's new tax on...Rainwater!?
http://americansforprosperity.org/04...#ixzz17AYhwciN

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Oh my, dishes yet to wash and dry

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momof3peas You are useing the wrong termonology (sp) Your not doing without running water. You are going with out a/c power aided water movement system. You will have running water Just not powered from the grid aka a/c power source. You may not have a well you will have a water containment system.

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I'm so done here.

I live in Alaska and have never had city water. I have a jury-rigged 800-gallon hole in the ground with a plastic liner and little shed built around it to catch rainwater off the roof for washing & showers. I now have a Sears pump and propane hot water so I'm all grown up now and have hot & cold running water. But I lived without either 35 years before that.
When it doesn't rain or when I have a bunch of grandkids for the summer I have a heck of a time keeping up with water tho. I haul my 250 gallon water tank to the harbor and dump it in my holding tank.
Before I had the holding tank & pump I used a raincatch for washing water, collecting it in 30-gal trash cans at the bottom of the gutters. When it was freezing out I had another trash can near the kitchen and filled it with a 5-gallon bucket from the raincatch. Yeah, it was clunky but 30 gallons of washing water can go a long way. I have an 8-gallon stainless pot filled on the woodstove all the time. I'm never out of hot water.
There is an underground spring 3 miles from my cabin that never freezes or dries up, it has the coldest most delicious water. I fill 5-gallon jugs for drinking & cooking about once a week.
You learn really quick how very little water it takes to be comfortable. A Cabelas sun shower filled with 2 gallons warm water is almost more than you can use. You can get a lot of laundry done with a 5-gal bucket and plunger and you can still get old-fashioned washtubs when you want to splurge on a leisurely bath & big loads.

We used to use one of these washers. They use very little water.

(Hoovermatic Deluxe) Background music is rather loud.

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I was not without running water but with out gas to heat, so I bought a Colman stove to heat water in a 3 gallon pot, poured it into a 15 gallon new garbage can and added cold water till it was a comfortable temp, I bought a battery powered shower pump to put in it and it was enough to shower all three kids. You just make due. For anyone who thinks this is neglect well hog wash! My kids were clean, fed and happy.

I had one of them. Took off my left index finger with it also with the spinner side. Can tell you I never got close to it till it stopped, ever again.

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I'm so done here.

I grew up (born in '74) with no running water. We did have a well about 100 yards and we filled up milk jugs every evening and carried water for dishes, drinking, etc. We had a wash tub for weekly baths, and would have a "spit bath" (wet wash cloth) daily. I never thought much about it, and being in the ozarks we knew several other families that did the same but we didn't "broadcast" it either.. Could I do it again? Yes. Would I want to? Not really. I think that it is one of those things that once you get used to you really miss..

wow!! all great insight!! i love this thread and im going to save it somehow, bc it is a wealth of info and also just love the encouragement!! thanks so much to all who have participated!!

ok, taxing rain water collection, im so ticked at that i could just spit!! geesh, what else can they think up to tax!!!