Your Water Plan on One Page
Sources, storage, treatment and a rough budget on one sheet you can pin up. Dana's worked example is on page 1.
Off-Grid Water: the free companion page
The book is the plan. These are the tools that make the plan easy to follow. Fill them in on screen, or print them and use a pen.
Safety numbers in the book come from the agencies named in each chapter. Nothing on this page replaces them. Check your own state or county rules and your own water test.
Printables
Your Water Number
Daily use, storage, annual catch and annual need, with the arithmetic done for you.
Know Your Rules
Four blanks that close the legal question: rain rule, well permit office, greywater rule, rebates.
The Water Testing Log
What you tested, when, the result, and what you did about it.
The Dose Card
Bleach and boil steps on one card for the cupboard. Fill in your bleach percent.
The Emergency Water Plan
Store, treat, and what to do when the stored water runs out, on one page.
The Family Water Card
Numbers, contacts and first steps for everyone in the house.
The One-Page Checklist
What to do this weekend, each month, and each year.
Seasonal Drain-Down Checklist
Fall drain-down and spring start-up for a place that sits empty.
Pump and pressure extras (Chapter 13)
Solar Pump Sizing Worksheet
Five steps from daily use to panel watts, with Cathy's example shown faintly.
Fittings Checklist
Parts for the gravity tank and solar lift projects, with the prices used in the book.
Friction-Loss Table
Pressure lost per 100 feet of Schedule 40 PVC at common flows, with a calculator.
Lessons learned the hard way
Nine short stories from people who ran into the problem first, written up from published posts, articles and forum threads. They are experience, not safety rules.
Nine small mistakes and surprises, reported in print by people who ran into them first. Three each from Dana, Cathy and Paul. These are stories about technique and convenience. Anything that touches safety points back to an agency or university extension source, and every piece ends by telling you which kind of lesson it is.
Dana
1. The Garage Water Nobody Checked
In 2018, a KUOW reporter in Seattle set out to answer a listener’s question about whether stored water expires, and went to check her own emergency supply in the garage. A store-bought bottle was about three years past its best-by date. Tap water she had bottled herself in old juice and soda bottles, some dating to 2010, had mold on the caps, and one bottle smelled bad when opened. A University of Washington microbiologist in the story suggested replacing home-bottled water about every six months.
What to do instead: CDC says to replace water you filled yourself every 6 months, keep containers in a cool place away from direct sunlight, and use food-grade containers that you wash and sanitize first. Write the fill date on the lid. Tie the swap to a date you already remember, like the clocks changing.
Experience, not a safety rule.
2. The Jug That Weeps
Commenters in a 2022 r/TinyPrepping thread on water storage said cheap, thin gallon jugs break down over time and eventually leak. One recalled finding out just how leaky they were while stocking up for Y2K. Another suggested keeping bottles in a cooler, so a leak makes a puddle in one place instead of several. Lamorinda Weekly, a California local paper, relayed East Bay MUD guidance in 2019 that everyday plastic jugs can leak.
What to do instead: CDC recommends FDA-approved food-grade water containers, or at least durable, unbreakable ones with a tight lid. Set them in a bin or on a floor that forgives a spill, and give each one a look and a sniff on swap day. A damp ring under a jug is information.
Experience, not a safety rule.
3. The Barrel That Split a Valve
A homesteading blogger on The Walden Effect planned to drain her rain barrel for winter, ended up leaving it full, and nothing broke. She wondered whether draining was worth the bother. Readers who answered were less relaxed. One said a barrel froze solid and cracked. Another said a brass ball valve split in single-digit weather. A third reported that thin connecting hoses split, especially where they touched the ground.
What to do instead: before a long hard freeze, drain the barrel, leave the spigot open and disconnect the hose. In the warm months, CDC says to screen the barrel’s openings or empty it at least every 10 days so mosquitoes can’t breed.
Experience, not a safety rule.
Cathy
4. The Cabin That Would Not Drain
On a cabin-building forum in 2013, an owner shut off the water, opened every faucet, and found the bathroom lines, which rise over the ceiling, were still holding water. The water heater would not empty fully either. Other members added two tips. Closed upper valves can vapor-lock a line, so open them too. And switch an electric water heater off at the breaker first, or the elements can burn out running dry. One member told of a friend’s Idaho cabin that froze after a fallen tree took out the power and nobody noticed.
What to do instead: Purdue Extension’s disaster guidance says to shut off the main or the well pump, open every faucet, insulate whatever cannot be drained, and expect to disconnect pipes at low points. After you drain, open the lowest fitting and see whether anything still comes out.
Experience, not a safety rule.
5. The Six-Week Wait
A poster in the Permies rainwater forum wrote that their first pump started leaking after about a year. The maker honored the four-year warranty, then took roughly six weeks to send a replacement. The advice that followed was to buy two pumps and keep one handy. In a 2020 thread on CountryPlans, members told a cabin builder planning a small diaphragm pump to filter the water before it reaches the pump and to keep a spare, since such pumps can be short-lived.
What to do instead: for a cabin forty minutes from the nearest hardware store, a spare pump and a spare set of fittings are cheaper than a lost weekend. Put the filter ahead of the pump, and write the install date on both.
Experience, not a safety rule.
6. The Pump That Ran Twice as Long
A cabin owner on the Solar Electric forum in June 2013 pumped lake water to a hilltop tank and fed the cabin through two small 12 volt pumps and a pressure tank. They worried the pumps used more power than they should. The tank’s air charge was not yet set, and each cycle ran about six minutes. A respondent said two pumps should finish in around three, and that longer can mean a weak pump. Another noted that higher pressure burns lots of power for little extra stored water. The thread does not report the outcome.
What to do instead: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension says most manufacturers recommend charging a bladder tank to about 2 psi below the pump-on pressure. Check your own maker’s number with a gauge. On solar, every extra pump minute comes out of the battery.
Experience, not a safety rule.
Paul
7. When 7,500 Gallons Wasn’t Enough
A poster in the Permies rainwater forum wrote that a 7,500 gallon setup could not carry the garden through a dry season of about a month, so they doubled to 15,000 gallons. The next spring brought a dry winter, and the tanks only filled to about three-quarters. Another poster in the same thread, after living with a 1,000 gallon cistern that held about half that in practice, called 500 gallons not enough to be convenient.
What to do instead: size the tank from your own arithmetic, daily use times the days you must cover, as Chapter 2 does for Paul’s 7,200 gallons. Then leave room for a tank that starts the dry season short. That margin is this book’s suggestion, not a standard.
Experience, not a safety rule.
8. Diverter in Place, Filter Clogged Anyway
In an older Permies thread on whether a first-flush diverter is needed, one poster who gravity-feeds drip irrigation from a tank wrote that the bottom outlet and the drip filter still clogged, even with a diverter. They planned to add a screen after it. Another installed a diverter to catch grit from ancient asphalt shingles and said it “doesn’t seem to work so well,” with deposits darkening the tank up to the waterline.
What to do instead: treat the diverter as one layer. A Texas Parks and Wildlife maintenance guide says to check it monthly, tap it to hear whether it is empty, and clean gutters and screens twice a year. If it never drains, add a drain line or a small hole in the cap. If the water will be drunk, CDC says to test it regularly and treat it.
Experience, not a safety rule.
9. The Cistern That Crumbled
One poster in the Permies rainwater forum described a block cistern whose sealant turned out not to be waterproof. It leaked, then cracked, and the walls began to crumble. The wooden lid framing rotted, and one year thousands of crickets turned up in the water. Tree roots had damaged several neighbors’ cisterns. In the end the poster gave up and connected to city water, which was cheaper than another repair.
What to do instead: choose a tank made for holding water, keep a solid lid, and site it well away from trees. CDC advises a screen where water enters, prompt repair of broken parts, and regular testing for germs and chemicals if you drink, cook or bathe with rainwater.
Experience, not a safety rule.
Where these stories came from
Practitioner accounts (technique and convenience only; accessed October 2026):
- “You may want to check your emergency water, because we did and ours was … MOLDY,” Deborah Wang, KUOW (Seattle), November 1, 2018. https://www.kuow.org/stories/my-emergency-water-is-moldy-what-do-i-do
- “Water storage,” r/TinyPrepping, Reddit, thread begun May 30, 2022. https://www.reddit.com/r/TinyPrepping/comments/v1cunw/water_storage/ (read through a mirror, lr.us.psf.lt/r/TinyPrepping/comments/v1cunw/water_storage)
- “How to properly store water for emergencies,” Vera Kochan, Lamorinda Weekly, November 27, 2019. https://lamorindaweekly.com/archive/issue1320/How-to-properly-store-water-for-emergencies.html
- “Winterizing the rain barrel (or not),” The Walden Effect (waldeneffect.org), undated, accessed October 2026. https://www.waldeneffect.org/blog/Winterizing_the_rain_barrel___40__or_not__41__/
- “Draining/winterizing plumbing,” CountryPlans forum, February 3, 2013. https://countryplans.com/smf/index.php/topic,12833.0.html
- “Water cisterns,” Permies.com rainwater catchment forum, undated posts, accessed October 2026. https://permies.com/mobile/t/174378/Water-cisterns (used for pieces 5, 7 and 9)
- “Cabin Water Pump, Tank and Heater,” CountryPlans forum, June 30 to July 10, 2020. https://countryplans.com/smf/index.php?msg=198495
- “Cabin water system,” Solar Electric forum, June 2013. https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/comment/242780
- “First flush really necessary?,” Permies.com, undated posts, accessed October 2026. https://permies.com/t/27178/flush
Agency, extension and utility sources (safety and guidance):
- “How to Create an Emergency Water Supply,” CDC, last reviewed June 27, 2025. https://cdc.gov/water-emergency/about/how-to-create-and-store-an-emergency-water-supply.html
- “Collecting Rainwater and Your Health: An Overview,” CDC, last reviewed July 23, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/private/rainwater-collection.html
- “Protecting Plumbing and Appliances during a Winter Power Failure,” INPREPared PREPnotes (Purdue Extension), reviewed November and December 2019. https://www.extension.purdue.edu/news/inprepared/2022/02/_docs/protecting-plumbing-and-appliances-during-winter-power-failure-prepnote3.pdf
- “Private Drinking Water Wells: The Distribution System” (G2152), Hygnstrom, Woldt and Skipton, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, July 2012. https://extensionpubs.unl.edu/publication/g2152/pdf/view/g2152-2012.pdf
- “Passive Rainwater Harvesting System Maintenance Guide,” Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (tpwd.texas.gov), file dated 2019-04-23 in the URL, accessed October 2026. https://tpwd.texas.gov/education/water-education/texaswatersprogram/passive-rainwater-harvesting-system-maintenance_2019-04-23.pdf
Videos from people doing it
DRAFT: titles and channels confirmed to exist; the author has not yet watched them. These show technique and daily life. They are practitioner experience, never a source for a safety number.
Dana
- Most Apartment Preppers Store Water the Wrong Way
- How to store backup water in your garage in 55 gallon barrels
- The RIGHT Way to Store Water Long-Term for Emergencies!
Cathy
- The Mini Cabin Finally Has Running Water! | Off Grid Water System
- Fighting A Hard Battle… Drought Hits the Homestead - Off Grid Rainwater Collection Systems
- A Labor Of Love and Winter Returns at the Off Grid Cabin
Paul
- EPIC 40,000 Gallon Off Grid Rainwater System Tour In The Desert
- Rainwater Harvesting Downspouts For A 28,000 Gallon Water Tank & RAINWATER FOOTAGE!
- Rainwater - Is It Safe To Drink? (Off Grid Rainwater Filtration)
- RAINWATER PUMP HOUSE FOR 28,000 GALLON WATER TANK - Plumbing (Part 4)
Clickable sources
Every source in the book, by chapter. Web pages change, so check the current page before relying on a number for a safety decision.
Every figure in this book comes from a named source, listed here by chapter. All were read in October 2026. Web pages change, so check the current page before you rely on a number for a safety decision, and where your state or county sets its own rule, theirs wins.
How we ranked sources: federal agencies (CDC, EPA, USDA) and state health departments and university extension services come first. Nonprofit and manufacturer material appears only as supplementary, and is labeled that way in the chapter.
Chapters 1 to 6
- ASCE. 2025 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure, Drinking Water (about 240,000 main breaks a year; nearly 20 percent of mains past useful life). infrastructurereportcard.org
- EPA WaterSense, Statistics and Facts (82 gallons per person per day at home, citing USGS). epa.gov/watersense
- Ready.gov, Water (at least one gallon per person per day; replace home-bottled water about every six months). ready.gov/water
- EPA, Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water (boiling times; bleach drops per gallon; boiling and bleach do not remove heavy metals, salts, or most chemicals); CDC, How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency (8 drops per gallon for bleach labeled 5 to 9 percent).
- CDC, About Choosing Home Water Filters (NSF/ANSI 53 and cyst reduction; pore sizes for Cryptosporidium, bacteria, and viruses).
- NSF, Public Health Standards for Water Purifiers (manufacturers choose which contaminants a purifier claims; check the standard and the contaminant on the label).
- CDC, Collecting Rainwater and Your Health: An Overview (germs and chemicals from roofs and gutters; first flush; treat before drinking; test regularly).
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, AZ1863, Preparing Rainwater for Potable Use (first flush about 10 gallons per 1,000 sq ft; roof materials; treatment steps).
- Texas A&M AgriLife, Rainwater Harvesting, Pre-Storage Treatment (1 to 2 gallons per 100 sq ft first-flush guidance).
- NCSL, “Is Catching Rainwater Legal in Your State?” (at least 31 states plus D.C. broadly allow unrestricted collection; updated September 8, 2025).
- Colorado Division of Water Resources, Rainwater, Storm Water & Graywater; Colorado General Assembly, HB25-1106 (postponed indefinitely, 2025).
- Utah Division of Water Rights, Rainwater Harvesting Registration.
- Nevada Legislature Research Division, Water Law and Issues in Nevada: An Overview (AB 138, 2017).
- EPA, Summary of Arkansas’ Water Reuse Guideline or Regulation for Onsite Non-potable Water Reuse.
- California Water Code, Division 6, Part 2.4 (Rainwater Capture Act of 2012). Sections 10570 to 10574 were read on 2026-10-13 from a Justia reproduction of the 2025 code; confirm against the official leginfo site before publication.
- Cost figures: well drilling from Angi (2026), HomeAdvisor (2026) and HomeGuide (2025). Angi and HomeAdvisor reported identical figures, so they count once. The $9,500 complete-well figure is our own arithmetic from Angi’s drilling average plus about $4,000 for pump, pressure tank and wiring. Rooftop and cistern systems from HomeAdvisor (June 2026), Fixr (January 2025) and Rutgers Cooperative Extension (about $1.00 per gallon installed, undated). Spring development from the USDA NRCS Arkansas Spring Development scenario costs (FY2014).
Chapters 7 to 12
- University of Missouri Extension, Drinking Water Well Management, EQM103.
- Mississippi State University Extension, Protecting Your Private Well.
- Nebraska Extension, G2151, Private Drinking Water Wells: The Water Well (2012); North Carolina DHHS, Private Wells FAQ (2015); Illinois Department of Public Health, Driven Wells (2011); Rhode Island DEM, driven well fact sheet.
- San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, Home Test Kits (2026); Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, price list (July 2026); UMass Amherst news release on at-home water tests.
- Retail listings read October 2026: Home Depot (well point, flapper, showerhead, containers), Walmart (containers, bleach, test kit), Repackify (used totes).
- University of South Florida, “An Evaluation of the Water Lifting Limit of a Manually Operated Suction Pump.”
- USDA NRCS, Arkansas Spring Development scenario costs (FY2014).
- CDC, Well Water Safety; Guidelines for Testing Well Water; How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency; Collecting Rainwater and Your Health; Household Water Treatment: Slow Sand Filtration; Safe Water Storage; How to Create an Emergency Water Supply; Cistern Safety and Disasters.
- EPA, Protect Your Home’s Water; Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water.
- WHO, Evaluating household water treatment options.
- CAWST, Biosand Filter resources (field-study numbers not verified).
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, AZ1863 (rainwater for potable use) and AZ1586 (cistern chlorination).
- University of Georgia Extension, B1487 (UV lamps).
- University of Nebraska Extension, G1493 and Nebraska-Lincoln Water.
- Penn State Extension (water treatment and testing).
- University of Florida IFAS Extension, SS439 (water storage).
- Ready.gov, Water.
- Utah State University Extension; Oklahoma State University Extension; Iowa State University Extension, Protecting Water From Freezing (winterizing).
- Bob Vila, Well Drilling Cost: What to Know, and How Much to Expect You’ll Pay (March 30, 2023). bobvila.com/articles/well-drilling-cost
- HomeGuide, Well Drilling Cost (accessed October 2026). homeguide.com/costs/well-drilling-cost
- Home Depot, Water Source 1-1/4 in. x 36 in. Well Point WP3680 (October 2026). homedepot.com/p/Water-Source-1-1-4-in-x-36-in-Well-Point-WP3680/203449589 (price carried from the existing text; page not re-fetched)
- GP Enterprises (well point maker, sold through Zoro), Drive Point Instructions (accessed October 2026). zoro.com/static/cms/enhanced_pdf (GP Enterprises drive point instructions PDF)
- Illinois Department of Public Health, Driven Wells (fact sheet, accessed October 2026). dph.illinois.gov/topics-services/environmental-health-protection/private-water/fact-sheets/driven-wells
- Home Depot, Everbilt 1-1/4 in. Well Point Drive Coupling EBC125 ($9.99, October 2026). homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-1-4-in-Well-Point-Drive-Coupling-EBC125/205617979
- Home Depot, Everbilt 1-1/4 in. Well Point Drive Cap EBDC125 ($10.99, October 2026). homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-1-1-4-in-Well-Point-Drive-Cap-EBDC125/205618027
- Home Depot, Water Source Pitcher Pump PP500NL ($57.79, October 2026). homedepot.com/p/Water-Source-Pitcher-Pump-PP500NL/203449574
- Home Depot, K2 Cast Iron Pitcher Pump AWP00002K ($69.85, October 2026; listed for depths to water of 25 ft or less). homedepot.com/p/K2-Cast-Iron-Pitcher-Pump-AWP00002K/314211816
- Mother Earth News, Drive a Sand Point Well (practitioner article, accessed October 2026). motherearthnews.com/homesteading-and-livestock/drive-a-sand-point-well-zbcz1507/
- Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Sample Hold Times (technical note, accessed October 2026). dnr.wisconsin.gov/sites/default/files/topic/DrinkingWater/TN/SampleHoldTime.pdf
- Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Microbiological Sample Collection Instructions (accessed October 2026). kdhe.ks.gov/DocumentCenter/View/5087/Microbiological-Sample-Collection-Instructions-PDF
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CCR Information for Consumers (accessed October 2026). epa.gov/ccr/ccr-information-consumers
- Retail listings read October 2026: Walmart (Leaktite 5-gallon pail and lid, Sawyer Mini filter, Clorox 121-ounce bleach); Sawyer Products, Mini Water Filtration System page. walmart.com; sawyer.com/products/mini-water-filtration-system
- Retail listings read October 2026: Home Depot (VITAPUR 12 GPM whole-home UV, V12UV; ISPRING 55-watt whole-house UV, UVF55FS; ISPRING 3-stage whole-house filter systems WGB32B and WGB32B-PB+AHX2; 20-inch Big Blue housing, 1-inch ports; Express Water 20-inch 5-micron sediment 2-pack). homedepot.com
- Retail listings read October 2026: Walmart (Clorox 121-ounce bleach, $9.28 on sale; Sawyer Mini filter, $42.99); Sawyer Products, Mini Water Filtration System page ($28.99). walmart.com; sawyer.com
- Repackify, IBC Tote Dimensions: Complete Sizing Guide, 275 vs 330 Gallon (updated September 11, 2026). repackify.com/blog/ibc-tote-dimensions-and-sizes
- Uline, IBC Tanks listing, models H-3886, H-4420, H-10775, H-10776 (read October 2026); Questar Solutions, EDT2275N-SP, new 275-gallon tote (read October 2026). uline.com/BL_173/IBC-Tanks; questarsolutions.com/itemdetail/EDT2275N-SP
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, Rainwater Harvesting, Color and Aesthetics (page last modified August 14, 2012). rainwaterharvesting.tamu.edu/color-and-aesthetics
- Retail listing read October 2026: Walmart, Uxcell 275-gallon IBC tote cover, black, $31.14 (green and silver $36.49). walmart.com
- Repackify, IBC Tote Valves and Fittings: Sizes, Adapters and Replacement (September 10, 2026). repackify.com/blog/ibc-tote-valves-and-fittings
- Repackify, Massachusetts IBC tote listings, table view (read October 2026). repackify.com/buy-ibc-totes/massachusetts/chicopee
- Uline, IBC Tanks listing (read October 2026); Questar Solutions, EDT2275N-SP (read October 2026). uline.com/BL_173/IBC-Tanks; questarsolutions.com/itemdetail/EDT2275N-SP
- Angi, How Much Does Pipe Insulation Cost? (updated March 6, 2026). angi.com/articles/pipe-insulation-cost.htm (foam $0.50 to $2 and fiberglass $2 to $4 per linear foot; consumer cost guide, cost only)
- The Home Depot, Everbilt 1/2 in. x 6 ft Foam Self-Seal Pipe Insulation, model 7PXL048058HD1 ($4.46, accessed October 2026). homedepot.com/p/327682619
- The Home Depot, 6 ft heat cable listings: VEVOR Z6FT35WFT110V70HGV1 ($18.47), Dr Infrared DR-9RC1006 ($31.54), READYTRACE-006 ($99.99), accessed October 2026. homedepot.com/p/325903620, /315344000, /333914659
- The Home Depot, Everbilt 1/4 in. x 3/4 in. Quick Connect Brass Garden Hose Irrigation Blow Out Fitting, 2-Pack, model 860520 ($11.41, accessed October 2026). homedepot.com/p/317716403
- Purdue University Extension, Protect Your Plumbing and Appliances during a Winter Power Failure (February 1, 2022). extension.purdue.edu/news/inprepared/2022/02/protect-your-plumbing-and-appliances-during-a-winter-power-failure.html
- Maine CDC Drinking Water Program, Preparing Your Seasonal Water System for Winter (undated, accessed October 2026). maine.gov/dhhs/mecdc (seasonal systems; drain pressure tank if freezing is possible; power off to pump and treatment)
- Oregon Health Authority, Shutdown Tips for Seasonal Systems (undated, accessed October 2026). oregon.gov/oha/ph/healthyenvironments/drinkingwater/operations/pages/shutdown.aspx (supports turning off the well pump and draining the pressure tank)
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension, Drinking Water: Storing an Emergency Supply, NebGuide G1536 (revised January 2010). extensionpubs.unl.edu/publication/g1536/na/pdf/view
- Ohio State University Extension, Food Preservation: Preserving Water for Emergency Use, HYG-5354 (March 24, 2017). ohioline.osu.edu/factsheet/hyg-5354
- University of Idaho Extension, Storing and Treating Emergency Home Water Supplies (May 6, 1994). objects.lib.uidaho.edu/uiext/uiext30873.pdf (also 2 to 3 inches of head space; supporting)
- No new source. Ohio State HYG-5354 and Nebraska G1536 (cited at line 1740) were read and do not address thawed water.
- Heather Kinkade-Levario, Rainwater Collection for Cold Climates (undated; hosted by University of Hawaii CTAHR rainwater library). www3.ctahr.hawaii.edu/hawaiirain/Library/papers/KinkadeLevario_Heather.pdf (practitioner paper, single source; cites an Alaska Building Research cistern publication)
Chapter 13
- UF/IFAS Extension, CH156, Hydraulic Considerations for Citrus Microirrigation Systems (0.433 psi per foot; head in feet = 2.31 times psi; only vertical distance matters).
- Kansas State University, Livestock Watering Handbook, Gravity-powered Systems (0.43 psi per foot; 6 feet of head minimum for livestock tanks; float valve; siphon air locks).
- Nebraska Extension, G2152, Private Drinking Water Wells: The Distribution System (minimum fixture pressure 10 psi; appliances and treatment units 30 psi; pressure tank sizing, switches, pump types).
- IRCWASH, Gravity Flow Water Systems: Practical Design Notes (static vs flowing head; add 5% for fittings; negative pressure and contamination).
- Texas A&M irrigation friction-loss charts (Schedule 40 PVC psi per 100 feet).
- The Center for Rainwater Harvesting, Sections 5.2, 5.4, 5.5 (nonprofit; supplementary: low-pressure uses by fixture; pump and tank ratings; drawdown table; switch settings).
- Texas A&M AgriLife Extension, Rainwater Harvesting, Distribution (pump sizing, pressure tank, licensed plumber, backflow).
- Virginia Tech Extension, BSE-346, Solar Powered Water Pumping Systems.
- Colorado State University Extension, Solar-powered Groundwater Pumping Systems.
- Mississippi State University Extension, P3236, Solar-Powered Groundwater Pumping Systems for Livestock Watering.
- New Mexico State University, Circular 670, Designing Solar Water Pumping Systems for Livestock.
- USDA NRCS, North Dakota Technical Note 1, Solar-Powered Water Pump Systems for Stockwater Design.
- Washington State Department of Health, 331-342, What is a bladder pressure tank?
- USDA NRCS, Engineering Technical Note 16 (2009), air vents on pipelines; Solar-Electric.com forum thread on 12-volt pumps; VIQUA S2Q-P/12VDC listing.
- Angi, solar well pump cost (updated July 2026); well tank replacement cost (updated September 2026); how to install a well pressure tank.
- Arithmetic: 20 ft x 0.433 = 8.7 psi; 8 ft x 0.433 = 3.5 psi; 10 psi = 23.1 ft; 20 psi = 46.2 ft; 30 psi = 69.3 ft; 16 / 4.5 / 60 = 0.059 gpm; (3 + 20) x 1.1 = 25.3 ft; (40 + 20) x 1.1 = 66 ft; 40 W x 1.25 = 50 W; 16 gal x 3 days = 48 gal; 275 gal x 8.34 lb = about 2,300 lb.
- Home Depot, Everbilt 3/4 in. Polyoxymethylene Bulkhead Union With Washer Fitting, $17.96 (October 2026). homedepot.com/p/Everbilt-3-4-in-Barrel-Bulkhead-Union-with-EPDM-Washer-800479/207176307
- Home Depot, Behlen Top Mount Float Valve, $30.23 (October 2026). homedepot.com/p/Behlen-Top-Mount-Float-Valve-3888133/202090087
- Home Depot, TekTube 3/4 in. x 50 ft. PVC Schedule 40 White Ultra Flexible Pipe, $69.99, and 3/4 in. x 100 ft., $89.99 (October 2026). homedepot.com/p/303172905 and homedepot.com/p/303172904
- Home Depot, Everbilt 3/4 in. PVC Schedule 40 ball valve 12-pack, $21.51 ($1.79 each), and American Built Pro 6-pack, $22.70 ($3.78 each) (October 2026). homedepot.com/p/314251875 and homedepot.com/p/328744784
- None new. Existing sources already cited in the chapter (K-State Livestock Watering Handbook; USDA NRCS Engineering Technical Note 16).
- Pentair Everpure, CTS-ADC and CTS-H54 countertop drinking water system specification sheet (accessed October 2026). assets.freshwatersystems.com/image/upload/s–vJJ1o_oK–/cas6d7dicwqarqdmyere.pdf
- None new.
Chapter 14
- EPA WaterSense: Statistics and Facts (82 gallons per person per day; leaks 9,400 gallons a year; toilet and showerhead savings), How We Use Water (70/30 indoor outdoor), Fix a Leak Week (updated March 2026: more than 9,300 gallons a year; 9 percent of homes 50 gallons a day; dripping faucet 3,000 gallons a year; flapper replacement), Home Maintenance (dye test 10 minutes; meter check 2 hours), Showerheads (2.5 vs 2.0 gpm; 2,700 gallons), Bathroom Faucets (2.2 vs 1.5 gpm; 700 gallons; aerator cost), Residential Toilets (1.28 gpf; 13,000 gallons), When It’s Hot (watering times).
- Penn State Extension and Virginia Tech Extension, water conservation (aerator $0.50 to $3; showerhead $4 to $8; source dated 2001).
- Utah Division of Water Resources, Gray Water Report (Feb 2011): about $2,000 system, about $40 a year, payback over 50 years.
- Oklahoma State University Extension, Gray Water Reuse (PSS-2922, June 2023): definition; 24 hours; ponding.
- Arizona DEQ, Using Gray Water at Home (FS-22-03, March 2022) and R18-9-711: 400 gallons a day; no spray; food plants.
- TCEQ RG-536 (January 2018) and Texas A&M AgriLife Greywater: 400 gallons a day; rain restriction; maintenance.
- New Mexico Environment Department Graywater and 20.7.3.810 NMAC: 250 gallons a day; 100 feet to private well; 24 hours; fruit and nut trees.
- California Building Standards Commission, California Plumbing Code 2025 (Title 24, Part 5, effective January 1, 2026), Chapter 15, Sections 1503.1, 1503.1.1 and 1504.5.1 (read as reproduced at GoCodeBook), and Information Bulletin 19-02 (May 2019, background on the 2016 code numbering); East Bay MUD, Graywater: Laundry to Landscape (Oct 8, 2020) and Greywater Action, Laundry-to-Landscape Greywater System (undated, page modified 2019): cost ranges; Home Depot listings (accessed October 2026): aerator and showerhead prices; San Francisco PUC Graywater Design Manual (Nov 2017), SFPUC rebate page, Marin County Graywater program (Dec 2024): washer-only no-permit conditions; mulch basin formula; distances; detergent; diverter; 12 or 13 guidelines (the two SF documents disagree on the count).
- EPA WaterSense, Fix a Leak Week (accessed October 2026): March 16 to 22, 2026. epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week
- Oregon DEQ, Graywater Guide for Homeowners (June 2013): Type 1 under 300 gallons a day; setbacks; no root vegetables; 24 hours. Note the Oregon State University well water program page says untreated graywater use is illegal under a different rule; the sources conflict, so the draft says “check”.
- Colorado CDPHE Regulation 86 and 5 CCR 1002-86.12 (effective Jan 2024): opt-in; labels; setbacks.
- Washington State Department of Health, Greywater Reuse and 337-108: tiers; kitchen water; pathogens; sick household.
- Utah State University Extension, Graywater Systems (May 2020); Utah Administrative Code R317-401-5: marking; setbacks; soap.
- CDC, Well Water Safety (last updated May 2024): minimum well distances.
- Arithmetic: 10 gal x 365 = 3,650 gal; 4 loads x 20 gal / 7 = 11.4 gal per day; 20 gal x 0.4 = 8 sq ft.
- Home Depot, product and category listings for WaterSense low-flow showerheads (Niagara Earth, $8.00; Niagara Earth Spa 1.5 gpm, $17.96) (accessed October 2026). homedepot.com/b/Bath-Bathroom-Faucets-Shower-Heads/WaterSense/Low-Flow
- Home Depot, Neoperl 1.5 GPM Dual Thread Water-Saving Faucet Aerator, 37-0086-98, listed as WaterSense certified, $6.48 (accessed October 2026). homedepot.com/p/NEOPERL-1-5-GPM-Dual-Thread-Water-Saving-Faucet-Aerator-37-0086-98/100666002
- Home Depot, Neoperl 1.5 GPM SSR Water-Saving Faucet Aerator Insert with Washers, 97205.05, $2.39 (accessed October 2026). homedepot.com/p/NEOPERL-1-5-GPM-SSR-Water-Saving-Faucet-Aerator-Insert-with-Washers-97205-05/203673079
- (No new source. Searched Toronto and Region Conservation Authority’s LID inspection guide (2016) and Texas Parks and Wildlife’s rainwater maintenance sheet (2019); both say to inspect cisterns for leaks but give no level-mark test.)
- California Building Standards Commission, California Plumbing Code, 2025 edition (Title 24, Part 5), effective January 1, 2026, Chapter 15, Sections 1503.1, 1503.1.1 and 1504.5.1 (text read as reproduced at GoCodeBook; edition and effective date confirmed at the state page). dgs.ca.gov/BSC/Codes and gocodebook.com/library/us/ca/ca-plumbing-code
- East Bay Municipal Utility District, Graywater: Laundry to Landscape (October 8, 2020). ebmud.com/download_file/force/8415/694
- Greywater Action, Laundry-to-Landscape Greywater System (undated; page last modified January 2019). greywateraction.org/laundry-landscape/
- San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, San Francisco Graywater Design Manual for Outdoor Irrigation (editions of June 2012, November 2016 and September 2018 read; figures identical). ebmud.com/download_file/force/1665/777
- California Building Standards Commission, California Plumbing Code (Title 24, Part 5), 2007 edition Chapter 16A, Section 1611A.1 and Table 16A-2 (Ventura County copy), and 2025 edition Section 1504.5.1 (GoCodeBook reproduction). rmadocs.venturacounty.gov/building-and-safety/publications/chapter-16a-nonpotable-water-reuse-systems.pdf
Chapters 15 and 16
- CDC, How to Make Water Safe in an Emergency (Sept 19, 2024): boil 1 minute, 3 minutes above 6,500 feet; bleach table; filters; chlorine dioxide and iodine; iodine cautions.
- CDC, Drinking Water Advisories: An Overview (Mar 4, 2024): boil even if filtered; uses of water; do-not-drink vs boil vs do-not-use.
- CDC, Cryptosporidium at Home during a Boil Water Advisory (July 7, 2025): no fridge ice or water.
- CDC, Safety Guidelines: Floodwater (updated Aug 2026).
- CDC, How to Disinfect Wells After an Emergency (May 29, 2025); Cistern Safety and Disasters (Aug 20, 2024); How to Find Clean Water in an Emergency (June 25, 2025); How to Create an Emergency Water Supply (June 27, 2025).
- CDC, Feeding Your Child Safely During a Disaster (Feb 2025); Prepare and Store Powdered Infant Formula in an Emergency (Aug 2026).
- CDC, What to Do to Protect Yourself During a Power Outage (Aug 2026): generator, carbon monoxide, Poison Control.
- EPA, Emergency Disinfection of Drinking Water (updated Feb 24, 2026): boil 1 minute, 3 above 5,000 feet; bleach table.
- EPA, What to Do After the Flood, 816-F-05-021: private wells.
- Ready.gov, Water; Ready.gov/FEMA, Be Prepared for a Power Outage (FEMA V-1008, Dec 2023); Family Emergency Communication Plan (FEMA P-1095).
- Minnesota Department of Health, Community Drinking Water Advisory Guidance (July 2018); New York State Department of Health, Boil Water Notices FAQ (Nov 2018); Vermont DEC, Flushing of Premise Plumbing.
- Virginia Department of Health, Before and After the Storm (Oct 2024).
- Penn State Extension, Post-Flood Drinking Water Safety (Aug 2024).
- Colorado State University Extension, Emergency Water Supplies and Treatment (Dec 2014, reviewed Aug 2025); Oregon State University Extension, EM 9334 (Oct 2021).
- WHO Technical Note No. 9, Minimum water quantity needed for domestic use in emergencies (draft revised 2005); FDA, Floods: Key Tips for Consumers about Food and Water Safety; San Francisco PUC, Home Water Shutoff Valve.
- Chapter 16 intervals are drawn from the Chapter 6 to 14 source lists: Arizona Extension AZ1863 and AZ1586; University of Georgia Extension B1487 (UV lamp); CDC (annual test; test sooner; 6-month rotation); Washington DOH 331-342 (tank life); EPA WaterSense (flapper; Fix a Leak Week); San Francisco PUC (mulch); Missouri Extension EQM103 (well inspection); Colorado State Extension (solar equipment life); Utah State, Oklahoma State, Iowa State Extension (winter rows); Nebraska Extension (distiller rows); University of South Florida (hand pump).
- Arithmetic: 4 people x 1 gal x 3 days = 12 gal; x 14 days = 56 gal.
- U.S. EPA WaterSense, Fix a Leak Week (accessed October 2026): “Mark your calendars for EPA’s annual Fix a Leak Week, March 16 through 22, 2026.” epa.gov/watersense/fix-leak-week
- World Health Organization, Technical notes on drinking-water, sanitation and hygiene in emergencies, Note 9, How much water is needed in emergencies (updated July 2013). wedc-knowledge.lboro.ac.uk/resources/who_notes/WHO_TNE_09_How_much_water_is_needed.pdf
- World Health Organization, Water Sanitation and Health, Q&A on water quantity in emergencies (updated January 2005). who.int/water_sanitation_health/emergencies/qa/emergencies_qa5/en/
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Water Decontamination Frequently Asked Questions for Customers (page updated September 21, 2026). epa.gov/waterutilityresponse/water-decontamination-frequently-asked-questions-customers
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Keeping or Discarding Packaged Food (page dated August 2026). cdc.gov/natural-disasters/psa-toolkit/keeping-or-discarding-packaged-food.html
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Key Tips for Consumers About Food and Water Safety During Floods (content current as of 2019, published September 2024). fda.gov/food/food-safety-during-emergencies/floods-key-tips-consumers-about-food-and-water-safety
- Utah Division of Emergency Management, Be Ready Utah, Other Sources of Water (accessed October 2026). beready.utah.gov/family-preparedness/12-areas-of-preparedness/water/other-sources-of-water/
- Alameda County (California), Emergency Drinking Water handout (undated). acgov.org/ready/documents/EmergencyDrinkingWaterHandout.pdf
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WaterSense, Residential Toilets (page updated May 29, 2026). epa.gov/watersense/residential-toilets
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, What You Can Do to Prevent Diarrheal Illness After a Disaster (July 22, 2024). cdc.gov/water-emergency/safety/index.html
- National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Symptoms & Causes of Diarrhea (last reviewed September 2024). niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/diarrhea/symptoms-causes
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Food Poisoning Symptoms (November 24, 2025). cdc.gov/food-safety/signs-symptoms/index.html
Chapter 17
- This book’s Chapter 5 household budgets (Dana $200 to $500; Cathy $800 to $2,000; Paul $12,000 to $29,000+) are built from the sourced cost figures in Chapters 5, 6, 7 and 10, with our own arithmetic shown there.
- This book’s Chapter 2 water numbers (Dana 56 gallons of storage; Cathy 16 gallons a day; Paul 120 gallons a day and about 7,200 gallons of storage) are our arithmetic from the planning figures in Chapter 2.
- University of Georgia Extension: UV from about $250 to over $1,000.
- Arizona Extension (AZ1586): chlorine test kits about $40 to over $400.
- Angi (July 2026): solar well pump systems $1,200 to $3,000; panels $1 to $1.50 per watt. Angi (September 2026): pressure tank replacement $300 to $700.
- Arithmetic: Cathy’s lift total, $800 + $1,200 = $2,000 low end; $2,000 + $3,000 = $5,000 high end.
- Walmart, Sawyer Products SP101 MINI Water Filtration System, $28.99 (October 2026). walmart.com/ip/46446039
- Walmart, Sawyer Products SP129 Squeeze Water Filtration System, $45.95 (October 2026). walmart.com/ip/24689330
- None new beyond those cited for FLAG 1873 (Home Depot listings) and Angi (July 2026), already in the book.
Current store prices
Prices below were seen in October 2026 and will have changed. They are here so you can compare against today.
Prices change. These are the figures used in the book, with their sources and dates, so you can check them against today’s prices. Store prices were seen in October 2026 and vary by store and week. Chapter 5 holds the household budgets.
| Item | Range | Source | Chapter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Faucet aerator | $0.50 to $3 | Penn State and Virginia Tech Extension (dated 2001; check today’s price) | 14 |
| Efficient showerhead | $4 to $8 | Same | 14 |
| Solar well pump system | $1,200 to $3,000 | Angi, July 2026 | 13, 17 |
| Solar panels | $1 to $1.50 per watt | Angi, July 2026 | 13 |
| Pressure tank replacement | $300 to $700 | Angi, September 2026 | 13, 17 |
| UV disinfection unit | about $250 to over $1,000 | University of Georgia Extension | 10, 17 |
| Chlorine test kit | about $40 to over $400 | Arizona Extension, AZ1586 | 11, 17 |
| Developed spring | about $2,000 to $3,500 plus storage and fencing | USDA NRCS Arkansas, FY2014 (older; expect more today) | 7 |
| Drilled well, all in | about $9,500 (our estimate); HomeGuide complete 200 ft well $6,000 to $16,000 | Angi, HomeAdvisor and HomeGuide, 2025 to 2026 | 5, 17 |
| Cistern, 7,200 gallons | roughly $4,000 to $7,500 | HomeAdvisor, Fixr, Rutgers | 5, 17 |
| Universal toilet flapper (Korky Fit-All) | $15.98 | Home Depot, October 2026 | 14, 17 |
| WaterSense showerhead, 2.0 gpm (premium example) | $57.46 | Home Depot, October 2026 | 14 |
| 5-gallon food-grade water container | about $38 each (3-pack $113.15) to $55.23 each | Walmart (Drevy) and Home Depot (Scepter), October 2026 | 11, 17 |
| Used 275-gallon IBC tote, non-drinking use | about $30 to $40 | Repackify listings, New England, October 2026 | 11, 17 |
| Bleach, two 81-ounce bottles | $20.22 | Walmart, October 2026 | 9, 17 |
| Nitrate lab test (with nitrite) | $38.00 | Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene, July 2026 | 8, 17 |
| Home water test kit | $21.99 (out of stock when seen) | Walmart, October 2026 | 8 |
| Well point, 1-1/4 in x 36 in | $59.99 | Home Depot, October 2026 | 7 |
| Sand-point well, finished | about $200 to $3,000 (do-it-yourself kit $250 to $500) | Bob Vila (2023) and one unsourced consumer guide, which disagree | 7 |
| Household budgets | Dana $200 to $500; Cathy $800 to $2,000; Paul $12,000 to $29,000+ | Chapter 5 | 5, 17 |
Cathy’s budget does not include the solar lift from Chapter 13. Adding it brings her total to roughly $2,000 to $5,000. Chapter 17 says so.