What would you do? Haul water or drill well?

**Sophiasmama** · 08-31-2011, 10:20 AM

We are in the planning stages of our lake lot...and are considering a few things to work on next Spring...the biggest one? To drill or not to drill...If we did indeed drill a water well...it will cost $12000.00...and the water is not the tastiest...you'd have to in the future add a water filter in the cabin...OR haul water on a small trailer...and it would cost $2.00 a fill...which is 1000 gallons...and could last us 2 weeks or more...our friends cabin has an indoor tank that holds water and they fill it from an outside hose...What are your thoughts on this? TIA! Janine

**mommy4ever** · 08-31-2011, 10:30 AM

I'd just bring the water in. We lived on an acreage, and the well water was brutal, even with a filter it stained everything and wasn't drinkable. It was 'safe' but taste was horrible. I'd save the cost of the well and just bring it in. Teach the family to be conservative with the cistern water, and you're good to go.

**mommy4ever** · 08-31-2011, 10:33 AM

plus you don't need to worry about the well pipes freezing in the winter. I'd just drain the cistern and pipes, you're good for the winter, no worries about pipes or leaks.

**krbshappy71** · 08-31-2011, 10:34 AM

I don't have experience with this. My laziness factor, though, would go for the well. I dislike winter and would not want to deal with hauling water in the winter if I could have it closer.

**imagine** · 08-31-2011, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Sophiasmama

We are in the planning stages of our lake lot...and are considering a few things to work on next Spring...the biggest one? To drill or not to drill...If we did indeed drill a water well...it will cost $12000.00...and the water is not the tastiest...you'd have to in the future add a water filter in the cabin...OR haul water on a small trailer...and it would cost $2.00 a fill...which is 1000 gallons...and could last us 2 weeks or more...our friends cabin has an indoor tank that holds water and they fill it from an outside hose...What are your thoughts on this? TIA! Janine

Do you live there full time or is this a vacation place?

**Sophiasmama** · 08-31-2011, 11:38 AM

Originally Posted by imagine

Do you live there full time or is this a vacation place?

When we retire we will live there May to October...it is a vacation place.

**imagine** · 08-31-2011, 11:46 AM

Originally Posted by Sophiasmama

When we retire we will live there May to October...it is a vacation place.

In that case for the 4 moths you are there would you rather have easy water that might taste off or hard to get water that might be tastier.

**Spirit Deer** · 08-31-2011, 12:37 PM

There are third and fourth options.

First, you could install a rainwater catchment system and use that for all non-potable water needs such as toilet flushing or watering plants. Then just haul in water for cooking and drinking.

Or set up a lake water system for non-potable water, using water pumped from the lake. Again, haul water for potable needs.

Water stored in plastic, especially if it's stored in the sun, can also develop a bad taste. Plus it'll grow algae eventually, and it's not always easy to clean and sanitize the inside of an inaccessible water tank. Just ask anyone who has had algae develop in their RV fresh water tank.

I would opt for the well, myself. Then just haul water for drinking. Potable well water, even if it's not tasty, is still safe for showering, cooking, and other uses where you might swallow it. Besides, there are some great filter systems out there these days, from what I understand, so you may be able to put a filter at least on the kitchen faucet to improve the water quality.

Good luck.

**Sophiasmama** · 08-31-2011, 01:34 PM

Thanks Imagine and Spiritdeer...you both make great points. We could always haul our water for now,then drill at a later time.

**shoiji** · 08-31-2011, 03:11 PM

I think I would eventually drill for water. You can bring bottled water for drinking. One reason is you will be living in it for a good part of the year when retired, and there will be less worry about water and hauling enough to your place. Another reason is that if you ever went to sell it the water is already there for future buyer.

Try looking at all the possibilities for obtaining water to see which is the best for you.

**Spirit Deer** · 09-01-2011, 12:19 AM

I'd be more inclined to drill a well ASAP. With fuel prices going up, it's not going to get cheaper to run heavy equipment such as a well rig.

**nuisance26** · 09-01-2011, 07:29 AM

~I would go with the well. You might be able to dicker down the cost by having the driller fit you in when business is slow for him. You have the option of bringing water in so it's not super urgent like most properties.
Another thing to consider is property value. In the event you need to sell the lake property, you may have trouble getting people interested in a home without a well. I think the 12K spent now will increase the attractiveness to a buyer later.
What are all the costs of bringing in water? It's not just the $2 fee(which is likely to go up). It's having a trailer and a vehicle to haul it, gas to drive 20X a year, and a storage tank. Look at the difference between the total cost to bring in water and the $12K and you'll see what the convenience of a well is really going to cost. It may not sound so bad then.~

**The Muse** · 09-01-2011, 08:26 AM

I'd drill.

**2ndGenGranola** · 09-01-2011, 10:08 AM

I'd go with a well.

It is just me and my hangups but I don't want to be dependent upon someone supplying me with the water by truck. What if the company goes out of business? What is prices go up after a year? What if the road is closed because of __? I'm not a huge fan of wells. I grew up with one and know they go out but of the two it is the lesser evil.