Backup water storage/supply

[JB]

I am on a community water system that fails about twice a month. Lost all pressure yesterday at about 5PM, right in the middle of cooking meals for a couple of weeks. Still down this morning. The crew is driving around looking for signs of a leak. I can't shower, cook, flush toilets or any of the many things we usually take for granted.

I don't think I want to spend the many kilobux to do a well. In this neighborhood wells are costing about $15K.

My daughter has a well that cannot support things like a washer load or a shower, so she has a reservoir with a separate pump. The well fills the reservoir and the pump supplies as much as needed at the time.

I think I read of a system for my problem. . .a separate pressure tank, like the ones on a well, that stores water under pressure and can take over if the water supply pressure fails.

Anyone have experience with that sort of setup who can advise me??

 

[JRJ]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

For 17 years we were on a funky water system. Our backup was a 1,000 gal concrete storage tank with a pressure tank and jet pump. I don't remember the exact size of the pressure tank, it wasn't the largest, but wasn't tiny either. Now days I see lots of plastic storage tanks. Anyway, the backup was a life saver and not all that expensive. No fun being without water. Good luck.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Ayuh,... How flat is the landscape at the hideout JB,..??

If you have any spots that are higher than the house, the simplest thing would be a storage tank at the hi-point, 'n gravity to the house...
It could be plumbed to fill from yer outside source(when it's workin') by a ball-**** type system, much like a toliet tank...
Or of course, it could be fitted with a pump, 'n pressure tank at the house, in the elevation ain't high enough to provide the pressure ya want...

Just how Big of a reserve do ya think you want,..??

I think I read of a system for my problem. . .a separate pressure tank, like the ones on a well, that stores water under pressure and can take over if the water supply pressure fails.

So long as it's plumbed with check valves, so's it don't let the water back into the failed supply system, Sure...

 

[JB]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Thanks, JRJ and Bond-o.

My typical water use is around 850 gallons a month, so even a 500 gal reserve should carry me for a couple of weeks unless I have company or a fire. . .then usage goes up to 1200-1600 gallons. Our water system crew usually has it fixed within a few hours.

Terrain does not permit gravity assist unless I put the tank on a tower. Installing such a system might be a good opportunity to treat the "potable" water so that my descendants don't bring bottled water when they come to visit. A lot of safe but bad tasting compounds in the water that they won't drink or even use to make ice or coffee. Thank goodness they will use it for showering, laundry and dishwashing.

Water is a very precious commodity in Texas, predicted to be more expensive than oil in my lifetime (well, yours anyway).

 

[bigdee]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Ayuh,... How flat is the landscape at the hideout JB,..??

If you have any spots that are higher than the house, the simplest thing would be a storage tank at the hi-point, 'n gravity to the house...
It could be plumbed to fill from yer outside source(when it's workin') by a ball-**** type system, much like a toliet tank...
Or of course, it could be fitted with a pump, 'n pressure tank at the house, in the elevation ain't high enough to provide the pressure ya want...

Just how Big of a reserve do ya think you want,..??

So long as it's plumbed with check valves, so's it don't let the water back into the failed supply system, Sure...

That would be my same reply but you beat me to it. Agri-supply has lots of plastic tanks and the prices are reasonable. If you could get by with a small reservoir, say 100-300 gallons you may be able to put it in the attic (after checking structural status). You would want to fill this tank with static pressure only...don't pressureize it!....An isolation and a bypass valve and your good to go.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Here is what I would do, if the system is unreliableyou could run into one of these http://www.plastic-mart.com/ then draw out of it so the water is always fresh. Then use a pump to a presure tank. You would never know when the system was down. To keep it from overflowing have a float valve instaled. Add UV lights to kill bacteria.

 

[The_Kid]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Around here I see a fair amount of 275 gallon gallon water totes on Craig's list for under a $100. That and one of the Harbor Freight shallow well pumps for around $120 would give you a week+ worth of water during normal usage. The inlet to the pump is about 12" high and the tote's outlet is on the bottom so you would only need to build a short base to raise the tank.

I've had one of the HF pumps on the dock for about 5 years now and it hasn't given me any problems. It gives 60+ lbs of water pressure. If you wanted more water available plumb 2 tanks together.

 

[Tim Frank]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

^^^^ I'd agree with the equipment list, but you could put the holding tank in-line with a check valve on the municipal supply side of the tank. on the house side of the tank have a bypass loop for the pump with a ball valve on either side of the pump. You need one more valve on the main line between the intersections of the pump bypass loop.
The benefit of this setup is that the tank is maintained as "fresh" and if you lose the town feed would still be full.
In the event of an "outage" you just need to open the two bypass loop valves and close that other one ( which actually could be a check valve, too, and would then look after itself).

The ~ 300 gallon tank would of course be pressurised to municipal pressure, and be a bit more expensive, but the benefit would be that as mentioned, it is always turning-over and fresh.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Ayuh,.... Good Ideas,.... I see farm water transport tanks for pickups, in the 500gal. range...

I like the idea of the Muni-system feedin' the tank, by ball-**** valve, maintaining a constant full level...
'n pressurizin' the hideout with the pump,n tank, Regularly...

It could be done in a cellar, or outbuilding...

 

[sasto]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

They are all over some parts of the Carib. Black is good and will heat the water also. I can get my hands good and clean before eating a meal there.

In all seriousness....Roof tanks are a common way to feed and supply from.

Good Luck!

 

[Summer Fun]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

JB, How clean is the pond water you have ??. If its just for showering & washing cloths & dishes why not pull it from there ??.

We pull water from the lake for 20yrs and it hasn't killed me yet.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Ayuh,.... Good Ideas,.... I see farm water transport tanks for pickups, in the 500gal. range...

I like the idea of the Muni-system feedin' the tank, by ball-**** valve, maintaining a constant full level...
'n pressurizin' the hideout with the pump,n tank, Regularly...

It could be done in a cellar, or outbuilding...

I like this idea too. I think you'd want a float switch or something that would let you know when the main line is down though and you're operating on your reserve so you'd know to go into conservation mode.

 

[JB]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Lots of good ideas, thank you all, gentlemen. I think the system Bond-o describes would fit my needs exactly.

Sorry, Summer Fun. The water in the pond (which is on land I no longer own) is silty and runs off of pasturage; not suitable for any use except to water my lawn and gardens. He would like it reserved for his livestock, though he allows me to stock it and fish there.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

I like this idea too. I think you'd want a float switch or something that would let you know when the main line is down though and you're operating on your reserve so you'd know to go into conservation mode.

just need a normally closed water pressure switch to turn on a light bulb up stream of the first check valve.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

just need a normally closed water pressure switch to turn on a light bulb up stream of the first check valve.

Ayuh,... Or a standard wellpump switch on the Muni-water side....
If their pressure drops, the alarm/ light will come on...

 

[marauder11]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Where i live if you are connected to the water system you would have to put in a backflow device that is testable on there supply coming into your home. Even if you are using thier water to fill the tank. This will be a yearly cost to get tested. Cross connection programs are not in every community but will be eventually. As for the system if i where to have those issues i would put a small fiberglass holding tank in the ground and use a small pressure pump. Grundfos makes one i have installed before worked good. I would also use a zone valve on my feed line and a float to keep it topped off. There is a water coop around here uses a half inch feed line into a storage tank then the home owner has there own pressure system. Similar idea. I would make sure to cover the cross connection issue with local inspectors . Have you ever seen water that has sat in a tank for a long time it might not be the best after a while.

 

[JB]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

Have that already, marauder, to prevent backflow from home and hoses when (not if) the system pressure fails.

Thanks for reminding me.

 

[MTboatguy]

Re: Backup water storage/supply

When I lived in Hawaii, we used gravity fed tanks that were either on the roof, or were supported on 8 foot water towers, most of the water was rain water, not to many streams in Hawaii, never did have a problem, we had the problems you describe on the community water supply quite often, but were able to live through it with the tank set up, of course the proper check valves and pumps were required.