Cottage Q&A
QUESTION
Can we draw water from a shallow creek that runs through our property? It’s 60 cm at its deepest point, and is about 20 metres from the cottage. How do I filter out the leaves, little sticks, and sand?
Kristi Karambolova, Midland, Ont.
ANSWER
Wade Woodward, owner of The Pump Shop in Haliburton, Ont., “wouldn’t think twice” about using the creek as a water source and adds that with a simple filtration and treatment system it should provide more than enough safe water for a toilet and other household needs, even showering or drinking. Woodward recommends a jet pump to draw the water – as long as there isn’t a rise from the creek to the house of more than 4.5 metres, which would strain the pump. (However, another expert we queried thought a rise of up to seven metres would still work.) The best way to filter leaves and small sticks is to place a filter sock over the intake valve; the mesh covering has a loose weave that eliminates larger objects without impeding water flow. And once water arrives at your cottage, you’ll need a sediment filter to remove inorganic solids. That combination will provide the basics for plumbing a toilet, but if you plan to use the creek water for washing or drinking you’ll also need to filter out harmful bacteria and parasites such as Giardia and Cryptosporidium. Woodward recommends a disinfection treatment system that uses UV light to kill dangerous micro-organisms.
Steve Brearton
Published in the March 2007 issue of Cottage Life.
