Water Filtration Advice

[fatlazyless]

Is there all that much difference between a shallow or deep well drilled into the ground on a Winnipesaukee island, and drawing water from the lake water? Neither one has filtered, treated and tested water like a N.H. municipal water system.

The amount of water used for coffee, cook'n and brush'n teeth is probably less than one gallon per day which can easily be lug-a-jugged from town water, ashore somewhere.

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by fatlazyless

Is there all that much difference between a shallow or deep well drilled into the ground on a Winnipesaukee island, and drawing water from the lake water? Neither one has filtered, treated and tested water like a N.H. municipal water system.

The amount of water used for coffee, cook'n and brush'n teeth is probably less than one gallon per day which can easily be lug-a-jugged from town water, ashore somewhere.

Well…Mother Earth (soil) is the OG filter. I would think water that passes through (clean) soil is likely safer/better than directly from a lake/pond. IMO.

[John Mercier]

Even with the shallow wells, it was surface run-off contamination.

[The Real BigGuy]

I also installed a UV system when I reach my early 70s. Lugging 5 gallon jugs from home got old and to difficult fo an old man. Been using my Viqua system (5 micron sediment filter, 25 micron carbon filter, and UV tube) for 3 yrs without any issues. (Also installed a deep well pump in the lake and so nice not to have to go thru the pump priming process.)

One of the things people need to know/remember is that a UV system doesn't kill bacteria, it essentially sterilizes them so that they will not reproduce in your body. It is this reproduction of the bacteria that makes you sick.

This is also why it is a good idea decontaminate your piping system (chlorine bleach) at start up of a UV system. If you miss a pipe run, existing bacteria can multiply and back contaminant the water pipes.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by The Real BigGuy

This is also why it is a good idea decontaminate your piping system (chlorine bleach) at start up of a UV system. If you miss a pipe run, existing bacteria can multiply and back contaminant the water pipes.

I would like to do this step at my place but need to figure out an easy way to bypass the septic tank. Not good at all to drain chlorinated water into the septic tank….

Dan

[BillTex]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I would like to do this step at my place but need to figure out an easy way to bypass the septic tank. Not good at all to drain chlorinated water into the septic tank….

Dan

Do you have a bypass for winterizing?

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by BillTex

Do you have a bypass for winterizing?

I don’t believe I do…I normally just blow out all the water lines really well then use rv antifreeze in the drains, toilet and washing machine. Been doing it that way for near 20 years with no issues…

Dan

[codeman671]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I would like to do this step at my place but need to figure out an easy way to bypass the septic tank. Not good at all to drain chlorinated water into the septic tank….

Dan

For the 1 time a season you would do it, I would not worry about it.

[Descant]

I\m not the primary operator, but I expect we use bleach occasionally in the washing machine at the island. I know we do at home which is also on septic, but never gets winterized.

[ishoot308]

Originally Posted by codeman671

For the 1 time a season you would do it, I would not worry about it.

If I would of been smart, I would of done it this spring as I just had my septic tank emptied a couple weeks ago!

I am going to check under the house to see if there is some kind of a bypass valve that BillTex mentions. I would think there must be one somewhere along the drain pipe...

Dan

[John Mercier]

Bacteria from waste will repopulate the tank.
But if concerned, a little additive should be more than enough.

[The Real BigGuy]

Originally Posted by ishoot308

I would like to do this step at my place but need to figure out an easy way to bypass the septic tank. Not good at all to drain chlorinated water into the septic tank….

Dan

As others have said, you probably use chlorine bleach in the washing machine at home (I do) and it hasn't been an issue there. Also, the way things are set up at my place, I think most of the bleach ends up in the hot water tank. I have an outside shower so I let the hot water run (before turning on the tank) thru the shower for 5 min or so to flush as much bleach water as possible from the hot water side. I also let the cold run thru the shower and the hose bib, but that is only flushing between the treatment system and those 2 locations. I open up the sink valves, the lines to the washing machine (into a 5 gl bucket), the indoor shower valves and let them flush for 5 min. Then i flush the toilet 2 or 3 times. All this seems to eliminate any bleach odor.