Homestead Archives - My kingdom for water...
Oct 08, 2025
Mentioning water...again, I point out that the average homesteader uses from 80 to 100 gallons of water per day! Key word is average. The author of "Homestead Survival" states that his family survives on around 40 gallons a day.
Where does all that water go?
Important
Know the difference between water and drinking water
Water weighs 8.34lbs
A family of 4, uses on average, 12,000 gallons of water per month. Conventional means families who have an "unlimited" water supply. Homesteaders know water is precious
Other stuff
"Don't buy property unless you are completely certain that either there is adequate drinking water on the property, or you have a workable plan for trucking in water" - Marty Raney - Homestead Survival
"The very first test you need to perform on the water where you're buying is a TC (total coliform) test. TC refers to a large group of coliform bacteria, both fecal and nonfecal. E. coli is a very well known fecal coliform." Marty Raney - Homestead Survival
Test for giardia as well. It is a cyst shaped parasite that infests the intestinal tract. It is found in city wastewater to lakes and ponds
Metals
Not all metals are bad. In small quantities, calcium is good for bones and teeth. Metals like cadmium, lead, mercury, chromium are toxic and lead to irreversable damages
The easiest way to indicate the prescence of metals is discoloration. Rust is a great example for iron. White is indicator of calcium carbonate (dominant in midwestern wells because of limestone caps below)
Water Rights
In the eastern half of the US, water rights are very lax. However...in the western half, water rights are often settled in court.