Of all utilities and services – electric, septic, phone, propane, refuse, mail, television, internet, and water – the most problematic is water. Electric, septic, phone, propane, television (not a necessity) and internet, once installed, require little maintenance. All six have multiple options and/or multiple vendors or installers. Refuse management – composting, recycling and trash disposal – require more work but little expenditure of money or time if managed with discipline. Water, however, is a necessity with few options. There are three options for water – drill a well, install a rainwater harvesting system or haul water from a commercial well.
I did not consider a well since water is 1,400 feet below the surface. The cost of drilling a well and providing power to pump from that depth caused me to eliminate this option without much consideration.
A rain water harvesting system is attractive. In contrast to a well, I can purchase the materials and install a system myself. Once installed, the system will require less expense and labor than hauling water. The negative aspects of a rain water harvesting system are initial expense due to the need for adequate storage tanks and adequate roof area. Since I live in a remote arid area, it’s a little difficult to project anticipated rainfall. Flagstaff is 25 miles west and 1,400 feel higher. Flagstaff receives about 110 inches of snowfall and 23 inches of rain annually. Winslow is about 45 miles southeast at an elevation of 5,000 feet and receives seven inches annually. The Navajo reservation is about two miles east and reports approximately 11-12 inches annually, much of which falls during August, September and October. To further complicate matters, the area has been experiencing a drought for the last several years. Here’s an abbreviated report dated January 26, 2006 (two days ago) from the National Weather Service:
EVEN WITH THE LATEST SNOWFALL YESTERDAY…FLAGSTAFF CONTINUES WITH THE LOWEST SNOWFALL SEASON TO DATE IN RECORDED HISTORY. THE CURRENT SEASONAL TOTAL IS NOW 1.6 INCHES…WHICH IS STILL THE LEAST AMOUNT OF TOTAL SNOWFALL EVER RECORDED SINCE 1898 UP TO THIS DATE FOR THE CITY OF FLAGSTAFF. FLAGSTAFF SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED 46.9″ OF SNOWFALL BY THIS DATE BASED ON 1971-2000 NORMALS.
THE AVERAGE OF THE TOTAL SEASONAL SNOWFALL FROM THE PREVIOUS NINE YEARS WITH THE LOWEST SNOWFALL SEASON TO DATE . . . WAS 42.5 INCHES WHICH IS 39% OF THE NORMAL TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR FLAGSTAFF (109.4 INCHES USING 1971-2000 NORMALS).
The problem I faced initially was moving onto the land without a house (ie: no roof area to catch water) and moving before the annual monsoon season. Initially, rain water harvesting was not a realistic option though I do plan to install a system.
Delivered water — the third option and my only viable option — can be somewhat expensive if purchased commercially or can take time of hauled myself. I chose to purchase a tank and trailer and do it myself. Fortunately, I live two miles from a privately owned water station so my commitment to time and expense is minimal.
In the next post, I’ll describe the temporary installation to provide water until a cistern and pump were installed.
I’m dying to hear how you are connected to the internet!
Michael, I connect to the Internet via satellite. This wasn’t my only choice. I have planned a future post about Internet access.
My folks also live off the grid in an area with no realistic possibilities for a well. They pay to have water trucked in each month. I think it costs them upwards of $500 a month during summer – then again, they have about 100 ranch animals (including a camel!). Still, it is their biggest challenge in living off the grid. Where did you obtain your water buffalo? And is it for potable water? I’d like to get them a trailer like you have and use my own well water to deliver and help out.
KC, I’ll post a new entry tonight and answer this question.
do you know the cost of hauled water from williams or flagstaff?
Brad, Sorry but I don’t. I asked one individual what it cost to have water hauled and he didn’t know what he was paying. I’ve never heard any costs.
Can I get the name and number of the person who you used for your septic help?
Brad,
My system was installed by Ralph Pinheiro (Pinheiro’s Excavating and Contruction) — 526-3818.
Where is your land? I assume you’re between Flag and Williams.
Hi Paul,
We’re purchasing a lot in the Four-Hills area of Howard Mesa Ranch, and I’ve just found your site today. I’m really enjoying your posts so far, and I’m getting more and more excited about our little corner of the world as close of escrow approaches!
In response to brad’s question, our realtor suggested a price of about $.05/gallon to have water hauled in to our area. (We are about 15 minutes off paved road-Hwy. 64, plus and addition 15 minutes outside of Williams). I would have to imagine bringing it in ourselves, as you have done, would be less expensive in the long run.
I look forward to reading more!!!
in response to Angela, we are having water delivered to our property and we are only a few miles outside of Flagstaff, the cost is $70 per 2,000 gallons, that is $.35 per gallon. It is HUGELY expensive!
Hi, I just found your site while looking for underground bladder storage tanks. The only one I have found so far is in Florida and shipping is too expensive. My husband and I have lived off grid for 12 years now, finally we have a few neighbors living about 1 mile away. They are not off grid. We live between interstate 8 and hwy 84 by Table Top Mountain. We built our house by hand and use solar panels for tv, lights, and for our solar swamp cooler. We use propane for fridge and stove and generator for ironing, washing and vacuming. The summer heat gets to us more and more as we get older and so we will be mountaining it this summer on the weekends. We haul our water from Stanfield about 7 miles away, do you know of anyone who sells bladders in AZ? Thanks for posting your site.
Hi, I am wondering what is the best way to get phone from my land off the grid? I think there is a way thrue couputers or Wi fi?
I thank you for your help
Phil