Off grid water question
- Thread starter TSPIRI
- Start date
D**N that brings back memories of the guy's outhouse on the east end of the barn at the old country school ( 1950's SW MB )!!! The added problem was that the lower grade guys were a little short and the hole became a yellow glacier in the winter LOL!
Actually drums are 55 US gallons which is not 10 lbs /gal that is an Imperial weight and measure. So the contents of a 55 US gal drum is 45 Imp gallons and weighs 450 lbs plus the weight of the drum..........or if you like we can do it in metric where the drum volume is 205 ltrs at 1 kg/ltr or 205 Kgs which is 450 lbs plus the weight of the drum.
At my old hunt camp we had a 500gal tank on a stand outside. The vertical drop to the washroom below would have been about 8ft. By gravity it fed the toilet, shower and two sinks but only one appliance at once. When men are drinking in the evenings you don't need to be elderly to pee a lot. We had a rule that the only fellas that could use the indoor washroom at anytime was someone who could not make it outside or up the hill, and being to dam lazy was not an excuse. We had one fella in a wheel chair so when he was in camp it was his washroom period. When ladies used the camp during the off season was the main reason we put indoor facilities in. I owed that camp for over 20 yrs. and never used the indoor toilet. Most fellas kept a pee pail by their beds so the middle of the night trip was only to stand up. Get those wussies your hunting with to do there business outside or up the hill, it's a hunt camp not a Holiday inn. By doing this you will save a lot of water and other issues like who cleans the toilet after some fella has messed it up. I had one fella one time who had the princess syndrome and would not go up the hill. I gave him a clear choice. He either went up the hill like everybody else or went home. He went up the hill.
A few things to think about would be Temperature of the tank rather than psi . As long as you can fill the flush tank with a few gallons of water the toilet will flush. If your outside temps are low enough to freeze then a 45 gallon block of Ice won't flush ... well you know the rest of that phrase. I would put in the hose with a ball valve so you can be sure it is off . Also put in an external drain fitting so you can drain the tank when not in use . If you can, mount an interior tank somewhere that it will not freeze. and remember the septic motto if it's brown it must go down , if it's yellow let it mellow. meaning Flush for poop and let the pee sit in the toilet (with water in the bowl of course)and flush when necessary(after a few tinkles).
My inlaws live off-grid in Southwestern Ontario. Power is normally supplied by a mix of wind, solar, and a water wheel (as long as temps don't drop below -10ish, then that freezes over). When they know power might be in jeopardy due to an incoming storm, or a problem with part of the electrical system (one of the battery cells die or the big solar panel isn't tracking for instance) they turn off water to the toilet so it doesn't make their well pump run. They just fill the bath tub with some water and use a jug of water.
Any chance there is a bathtub or even a shower beside the toilet? Just fill that (or put a big garbage pail in the shower) while the pump is running, and scoop it up with a jug at night.
Any chance there is a bathtub or even a shower beside the toilet? Just fill that (or put a big garbage pail in the shower) while the pump is running, and scoop it up with a jug at night.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Admirable folks. I grew up in a log house with wood heat, but we had power, and even that was a lot of work.
!FGR.............should'a looked at that and considered it before you married the daughter................I tell my boys "Remember, you're marrying into a family, not just the hot little daughter. And they will come and visit, as must you go visit them"
Here is a pick of my camp.... Where I have the pleasure of using an outhouse.... 
.... I do have running water that works when the generator is running, but when the camp was built it wasn't done with the use of power in mind and no bathroom was installed.
On the left is a food grade water container I built a frame for to keep it off of the ground. I simply fill it with the hose when it starts to get empty. I have a hot water on demand setup hooked to the bottom of it for the outdoor shower, and in your case OP, you could do likewise and run a line in to the cabin for your toilet.
.... I do have running water that works when the generator is running, but when the camp was built it wasn't done with the use of power in mind and no bathroom was installed.On the left is a food grade water container I built a frame for to keep it off of the ground. I simply fill it with the hose when it starts to get empty. I have a hot water on demand setup hooked to the bottom of it for the outdoor shower, and in your case OP, you could do likewise and run a line in to the cabin for your toilet.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
I'd be mounting that tank outside.
You risk a major catastrophe if it leaks, never mind the weight.
Pressure isn't really a concern, it will just take a bit longer to fill the toilet tank.
Forgetting to drain the toilet tank at the end of the season, that will bite you sooner or later.
You risk a major catastrophe if it leaks, never mind the weight.
Pressure isn't really a concern, it will just take a bit longer to fill the toilet tank.
Forgetting to drain the toilet tank at the end of the season, that will bite you sooner or later.
