run a new water line or dig a new well?

[mkr7734]

Nothing new there. Years ago many had a Cistern and almost everyone had one if they had a basement. We knocked out the wall in ours and made it a shower room back in about 1960.
I think the OP needs to contact his local Gov offices and see what is code before he takes anyone's advice on something that may have to be removed or replaced at the time of sale. JMHO

 

[timswi]

Now I'm intrigued about the Underground Water Cistern Storage Tanks. My barn has a very large roof so I could collect a lot of water. But it brings up a bunch of questions: didn't the EPA just make it illegal to collect rainwater? What kind of maintenance does an Underground Water Cistern Storage Tank require? I imagine if its taking water from the roof, that it is also collecting debris (even if there is a filter, I'm sure something is getting through). If something does get into the tank, does it foul up the water? Has anyone installed one? What other components (e.g. risers, vents, etc) are required to install this system?

My in-laws have a cistern plumbed for only non-potable water. No vents or anything else, I think there is an intake filter of some sort. There is a pump about 6" off the floor of the concrete tank. It's been in for 20 years at least and nothing has needed to be done with it. Guess at some point a cleaning may be needed if roof debris builds up.

If this were me and the geography and distance allowed it, I'd put in a line after the holding tank and before the softer with a ball valve and just go with that. Schedule 40 would be good if you don't have to go too far. Wells around her go 5k and up depending on depth.

 

[blucoondawg]

I'd run pex tubing from the cabin a minimum 3/4 inch diameter, one inch would give more pressure but may not be necessary, half inch pressure would get pretty sluggish at that distance

 

[Wagtail]

Now I'm intrigued about the Underground Water Cistern Storage Tanks. My barn has a very large roof so I could collect a lot of water. But it brings up a bunch of questions: didn't the EPA just make it illegal to collect rainwater? What kind of maintenance does an Underground Water Cistern Storage Tank require? I imagine if its taking water from the roof, that it is also collecting debris (even if there is a filter, I'm sure something is getting through). If something does get into the tank, does it foul up the water? Has anyone installed one? What other components (e.g. risers, vents, etc) are required to install this system?

Mate, I have no idea what your EPA (State or Federal) has to say about the legality of collecting a few gallons of rainwater that was going to seep into the ground anyway... what you'll be using the water for is going to end up back in the ground eventually. If you were planning on a dam, pond or lake; that's a different story.

I would imagine that you could fully or semi-bury the tank. The tanks we have here all come with a screen on top to catch debris from the downspout + an overflow hole at the top.



It's pretty simple. This is the system I've got hanging off my shed... it waters my horses & I can use it with my karcher for hosing down stuff.

 

[CurlyDave]

Now I'm intrigued about the Underground Water Cistern Storage Tanks. My barn has a very large roof so I could collect a lot of water...

How are you going to persuade the birds on the roof to "hold it" until they go somewhere else?

I know roof collectors are used, but they have always seemed very unsanitary to me.

 

[redman135]

If you have any sat' dishes etc mounted on the roof make sure you have them hang over the edge of the roof so the garden/lawn is fertilised and not the roof. I grew up with a roof water supply, and I am continually amused by the number of people who miss this point.

 

[Valveman]

If you are not going to send filtered water to the barn, I would just tee in at the well. As long as you tee in after any check valves, the pressure switch at the pressure tank will still turn the pump on for use in the barn as well. The only check valve you need is the one in the well on the pump.

 

[cmyoung2]

OP, Since you are in WV, no problem using rain water, if you were is some of the western states like OR, WA, then it is an issue legally. Don't understand it, just is. Out west it is a water rights issue, not EPA

 

[astrohip]

I just went thru this debate. I'm building two barns about 300 feet from our house. We're going to tee off the water supply just after the pressure tank. Plumber says it's not even close to being an issue, that there is plenty of pressure to run that far. Costs far less to trench a pipe than put in a new well.

It needs to be after the pressure tank, or the well/pump runs *every* time you draw water. That's the purpose (one of them) of a pressure tank, to hold water in between the pump running.

 

[Gator6x4]

I have two out building and a house on the same water source. Never had a problem or issue. For the long runs I used one and quarter line to insure sufficient volume. The one and one quarter was reduced down to one inch then to 3/4 inch. works great. The only well that I have ever seen two pumps in was a bored well. Never seen two pumps in a drilled well. I just don't think one could find room for the pipe and two pumps in a drilled well.