[Ponderosa]

Long time lurker (10years), first post. In the process of starting a off grid cabin and a well is the last thing on my list, in the mean time I would like to have some clean water for flushing toilet, washing dishes and shower. Thinking of a four wheel trailer and 250 gallon tote with a 12v pump. Any other suggestions would be welcome, thanks.

 

[rambler]

Paint it or put in a shed or tarp to keep algae away.

A little bleach is also your friend.

Don't live in Minnesota, you end up with a 250 gallon block of ice 6 months of the year......

Paul

 

[farmerDale]

Put the well to the top of your list?

 

[DaleK]

Not much point spending $ on all the rest then finding you can't get water, water should be the first thing you look for

 

[dfr1973]

Composting toilet ... why would you use clean water to flush a water-based toilet, and where would it flush to? Separate out the cooking/drinking water from the washing water as well. Cleaning your body and clothing does not require drinking-quality water.

 

[TxMex]

Rainwater catchment. I prefer that system over a well. It is cheaper. Your water is accessible even if the electricity is out. I've been on rainwater catchment for most of the last 10 years.

 

[rambler]

As the others suggest, not knowing your location, water is pretty important, I would not put a well as the last thing on a list either. Are you in a location where you can be pretty sure of getting water whenever you get to it on the list? Would be really bad to invest so much time and money and effort and the come up dry......

Flushing a toilet suggests a septic system; I'm not going to ask where that is on your list.

Otherwise, the tote works fine in warm weather as I mentioned, several here in the past have used them for freshish water.

Welcome to the forums also.

Paul

 

[Ponderosa]

Thanks for the replies. On the dry side of Oregon, closest neighbor went 600 feet for three gallons a minute ($16,000) so it will have to stay at the back of the list. Just seems like a flush toilet would be nice, I also forgot to say that this wouldn't be my full time residence (wish it was), by the time I could make this happen I'm afraid I will be too old to fight the snow.

 

[TxMex]

A rainwater catchment system will cost you far less than a well. I had rainwater catchment when I lived in the Chihuahuan Desert. Average annual rainfall is 10 inches. It is all about sizing your tanks correctly.

 

[simi-steading]

Just seems like a flush toilet would be nice,

They are nice, but as someone asked, where is a septic, or even an aeration system on your list? You just can't flush a toilet into the great beyond. It has to have some place to go.. .

I know in the city you never think about that. That's because everyone takes a sewer for granted. In the country, you don't have the luxury of a town supplied sewer, so you have to install your own system.

An average price for a septic or aeration system is $8-10K...

A composting toilet, or an outhouse will be your cheapest options...

Water should be your first priority no matter where you live. You can't live without water... If you don't have a creek to pull water from, you can catch rain as others stated.. You can set up a filter system that can filter your water to make it clean enough to wash dishes and such. I've taken many a bath and shower with water straight from a creek, or even a lake... I've also washed many dishes in the creek...

 

[Use Less]

If you have electric, there are toilets that burn up the waste.

 

[AmericanStand]

What are you going to pull that trailer with?
Id rather haul on a truck than a trailer.
In either case if you have two tanks one can be clean water one can be septic to return to water treatment facilities.

In a occasional use a 8' square crib 4' deep will handle all the water you will haul in a 250 gallon tank.

 

[ChristieAcres]

I'd check to confirm what the legal requirements are for water catchment, septic options, etc... If you are in Oregon, there will be.

We have an outhouse, only because it has been on this property for many years (grandfathered in). They are no longer allowed to be built.

Water should absolutely be the top priority, no matter which option you choose. We were fortunate to have had a choice, as our #1 priority was a good well with pure water. If we wanted to save a lot of money, we could have bought a property without septic, water, and power (even had RV hookups). I figured out the difference and financially we are way ahead.