Overview

An alternative water sources, for our purposes, is any water source that is not a dug, bored, or drilled well. Municipal water sources are excluded from the alternative category. Springs, lakes, cisterns, driven wells, and similar sources of water are the types that I will be calling alternatives. In some cases, the water will not have to be safe for drinking. There are times when rural builders have to provide water sources for homes and related structures being built, and some of the water is not required to be potable.

Let s say for example, you are building an exclusive home for an owner who enjoys horses. The homeowner might want water available for the stables, and this water doesn t necessarily have to be safe for human consumption. It might be practical to put the horse and barn water on a separate system. You might even suggest a solar-powered system. If the barn chores will require a lot of water, it could put a strain on the residential well. Rather than deplete the home s drinking water, an alternative source might be desired for the stable s needs. This would be a case where two water sources are used. They might both produce potable water, but it would not necessarily be critical that they do.

Even if you don t have a need for nonpotable water, an alternative water source may be worth considering. Many homes get their water from springs and driven wells. While these two sources of water are not normally...