Collecting spring Water During the Winter in Alaska | Plowing Snow

[@littlegriffoffgridalberta6837]

I witched were I'm at because others had shallow wells in the neighborhood, Ground water spring I hit only 10' feet down so went to 19' & have unlimited supply right under the cabin :)

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Nice!

[@littlegriffoffgridalberta6837]

Have you ever tried witching near the cabin for an underground spring ? You could probably dig & have it right at the cabin :) If you see what direction the water is coming from head upstream !

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Haven’t tried but might be worth looking into.

[@JamesCouch777]

I put in a solar water system and it worked great year round. It would work where you are.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

We’ll have to look into that, thanks 😊

[@larrywhite6895]

Build a concrete Spring House, install a 12 volt pump to push water up~hill!! When full @ top shut off, have a float valve @ bottom that drains dn hill!!

[@barbn1211]

Yes! I've seen many built with cindercrete blocks.

[@WîlliamWard-w6z]

Regarding your "water to house" issue, you need to know 2 bits of data beforehand: 1. How much higher is your house relative to the spring? 2. What is the water travel distance between the house and water? These two things will allow "pump experts" out there to coach you on whether a Ram pump or a DC pump or an AC pump are needed to do the job. Pumping up 10 feet over 100 feet of length is a lot easier than pumping up 100 feet over 2000 feet of length. And the cost of your solution will vary depending on how high and how far a pump would have to pump. These numbers don't have to be exact, just in the ballpark so you can get pointed in the right direction. You don't want to get started on a Ram pump only to find out it had no chance of doing the job. If it's too much of a height or too long a distance, that might switch you to a pump & tote method instead where you pump to a convenient parking spot and then use your 4x4 to transport it the longer distance. For the height difference, are there any contour maps of your area? Or does Google Earth cover your area? Google Earth spits out elevations as you move the cross hairs from place to place. Google Earth can also measure distance between points using the measure tool. If none of these exist for your area, maybe your property was surveyed and there is a scaled map of your property that can help you. And if not, maybe a drone shot from high up with a known object in view can be used to estimate the linear distance. And maybe a tall pole (think survey rod) and sight level can be used piecewise to climb up and count off the height change from the spring up to the house. I think it all starts with the data.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

I think we’re pretty close to 40’incline and 1600’ to the house.

[@sarahschlosser1203]

Growing up in Northern Washington, we had an A Frame well house that done below freezing, with sand and gravel over the pump pit to pump water to the house. It had an over flow, never had issues with it freezing during the winter.

[@mariezafonte6473]

It's great that you have the spring on the property. It's quite a steep walk to get down to it and then carry the containers of water up. Maybe in the future better steps or a system of getting the water up the hill. The dogs seem to love it down there.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

We’ve got holdings tanks and a water pump now. The plan is to get piping over the winter and hopefully have running water by summer.

[@sallyberry4456]

This is an interesting situation to figure out. I saw several viewers mentioned a ram pump that does not require electricity. I did not know such a thing existed so I’ll be learning about that. Thanks for taking us along on this one.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

We’re going to look into the ram pump and maybe give it a try.

[@kathleenalleman2373]

I love spring water and I'm happy that you have it on your property. Your doggies love the snow. They tickle me watching them playing. Be careful on those steps. Love your videos

[@johninalaska9563]

Having a Spring on your property is invaluable. I have to take my 6by a couple of miles to get my water and I hope my creek isn't froze over. You have a nice long driveway, that's why I bought my property. I don't fret too much about Solar, I get direct Sunlight all day that it's up. I have to agree with Bill from My Alaska. Take care.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Stairs may be a future project

[@IzzaMeanCat]

There is something special about drinking spring water out of the ground. 👋😸✌️🇱🇷

[@howieskitchen4321]

Other than pure and delicious not a thing

[@janetparrish3429]

Love that you have spring water on your property. Having it close by is awesome! Y'all have done so much in the time y'all been there, 😊

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Thank you 😊

[@barbn1211]

Your pups have such a wonderful life with you guys. You can see how well treated they are, too...always wanting to be around you while never really separating from each other. Some may say they're underfoot a lot, but I think they're 'love bombing' you. Wonderful to watch! ✌️🇨🇦

[@ouralaskahomestead]

I think it’s “love bombing” also 😂 love that 🐾 🤎🖤

[@michaelcravens3767]

When you put in the pipe from the collection tank to the house don't forget to put a check valve at the bottom of the hill so that the pump will not have to work as hard. You can place a drain valve just ahead of the check valve so that you can drain the line so it does not freeze in the winter.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Great idea!

[@vickievixen3785]

How about some gravel on the steps? Would that make it easier? As far as getting the water up the hill in the winter either way you have to bury the pipe and make sure that it's very well insulated. Someone I was watching had mentioned about running a heated line but I think the distance precludes that. Their spring wasn't very far. I don't know how you would run a heated line without it's own power source either for that distance. Definitely a difficult situation, a head scratcher for sure. The beauty is there are lots of people here with lots of ideas and maybe a little of this and a little of that will make the magic happen.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

I think the plan will be to put a tank at the spring, run the hose up to the holding tank on the porch and just drain it when finished. That tank holds enough to last a month so it’s not something we’d have to do too often. A heated pipe wouldn’t work for us since we don’t have electric. Anything heat related takes a large amount of power, more than we can keep up with. Idk we’ll see.

[@TheSanderson1962]

I got cold just watching that! God bless y'all!

[@MyAlaska12]

I think a good summer project would be to build a set of stairs down to your spring. Thanks for sharing

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Would be nice to get those metal grates and build a real set of stairs. Much safer too.

[@AlaskanFreedom]

You're very lucky to have that spring.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

We were very happy to find it.

[@MsCar2008]

Nice spring

[@estellaknox9285]

I know about caring water 💦 ì did it for two years it was not so good when the water 💦 pressure was low hope things get better fir you guys.

[@jeffking6529]

Get you a floating tank heater & put in your tote at the bottom of the hill, then it wont freeze on you & you can pump water to your tank on your pourch. You can but tank heaters at farm & home stors like RuralKing.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Great idea!

[@glenharper3136]

Thanks for the video.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Thanks for joining us.

[@theresamoore7634]

👍

[@Barbara-g6x]

There is a youtuber that has a soter panel that runs a pump. They put a plastic barrow in the ground by the spring. The pump pushes the water up to their house. They put a great big plastic container in the ground at the house. They full it with the spring water from the hose. They run another pump in there to the hose. Now the house has water.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

That’s similar to what we plan to do. We’ve got the holding tanks and pump now. Just got to get the pipe and we’ll be able to put it all together in the spring.

[@Dripdiva1]

Hi build yourself a Ram Pump at the source and run a pipe up the hill back to your cabin. No power needed will work 24 7 for you.. probably might need an insulated box over it.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Yeah, some other viewers have mentioned those. We’re going to look them up and maybe give it a try.

[@anelson2964]

Wild Alaskan Homestead… You guys might be able to put your big water tote in an insulated small greenhouse and dig an earthin tube down 8-9 foot inside of it to capture the warmth of the earth to keep the inside of the greenhouse warmer

[@DawnMillington-i9t]

Wow after watching this video I realize I take my water for granted. I do have a well with in ground pump. I know in time you will get this all figured out. Keep up the good hard work. 😊

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Yes, we were able to buy two holding tanks and have a pump now. We’re going to work on getting pipes and fittings over the winter so it can all be put together in the summer.

[@ShadowMoonFarms]

Thanks for sharing

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Thanks for watching!

[@loristephens3016]

OMG! Your dogs remind me of my Shepherds! Yeah I had five, all at the same time. Ryker, Daulton, and Jordi(my boys) Rave and Tiffany (my girls) . Ryker hated my vacuum, I either had to put him outside or shut him in a bedroom. I lost a couple of vacuums when he learned to open doors. I loved my Shepherds, miss them like I'd miss my arms. They were my best friends. ❤❤To all.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

All four of these goobers are scared of the vacuum 😂

[@charlenegrady8781]

That was a little tricky getting your water but I bet it is good tasting. Thanks for sharing. Take care from Cape Cod. Stay warm✌️🇺🇸❤️❤️

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Best water I’ve ever had. Clean, crisp and refreshing.

[@ellenisley2928]

Not sure if it would work in winter, but a ram pump is used in many rural applications. It does not need electricity.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

A few other viewers have mentioned a ram pump also. I’m not familiar with them but I think we’ll look into it further and maybe give it a try.

[@JacquelineRingel]

My favorite you tube couple 😀

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Awww, thank you so much 💜

[@myfunart]

How about putting one tote on a sled to tow and keep the other at the spring to collect the water and take the pump with you to pump it to the one on a sled. I'd also build steps and put a simple cover over it to keep the snow off. Maybe a good idea or maybe not, just me sitting here with coffee in hand. lol

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Proper stairs and a cover would be really nice. Not having electricity makes it difficult to run a pump. We’ve been wanting to get a smaller, maybe 2200watt generator. If we did that then pumping from tote to tote would work well. Thanks for the ideas.

[@denisebeerer5862]

Love this video with your dogs! ❤

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Thank you 🐾

[@JamesCouch777]

Have you considered a ram pump? You can leave it running year round.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

We aren’t familiar with them but it was suggested by several viewers so we are going to look into it, thanks 😊

[@susancampbell7279]

Make a rope hand rail to give something to hold to.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Good idea

[@GreyfyreShelties]

I would rent an excavator next summer and dig a trench to a deep pit that I set the tote in. Then I'd dig a trench up the hill and lay more pipe to up on top of the hill into a small block pump house built deep enough below the frost line and another tote. Then next summer I'd rent it again trench and run a water pipe to the house. I built a 'basement' around my hand driven shallow well (before I could afford to have a well dug) over 40 years ago and I've never had to heat it. Even when the temps dropped to 25 below zero, nothing downstairs froze. The ambient ground temp that deep always keeps the temp above freezing. Build it all piecemeal and it becomes affordable...step by step...Don't know how many pumps you'd need to manage the whole distance to the house, but that's how I'd solve the water problem.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Definitely great ideas!

[@danmcdonagh8924]

Would be best to get some toats up by your house that you could keep insulated or heated. Fill them in the fall or maybe a couple times in warmer weather. Check the other vids in Alaska. There is a couple that have the set up your looking for. Can't remember there channel name right now. Very good to watch.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

We were recently able to buy two holding tanks and a pump. We’re going to work on getting the pipes and fittings over the winter so we can put it all together in the spring.

[@danmcdonagh8924]

@ouralaskahomestead All good.

[@howieskitchen4321]

Good video guys be safe

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Thanks 😊

[@tomhusted3304]

This summer after the thaw dig down about 2 ft than make a Damm to hold the water so you can sink a whole jug in it

[@ouralaskahomestead]

We’ll try that. Thanks 😊

[@susancampbell7279]

Nice

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Thanks

[@anelson2964]

Wild Alaskan Homestead, just wondering if you guys have a weed burner to melt off your stairs to the spring

[@ouralaskahomestead]

No but that would be handy and I have a feeling Craig would have fun using it too 😂

[@Luckie337]

This should have been addressed way back in the summer. Priority number 1.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Priority 1 for us is getting the house finished. We can access the spring year round as it is. Yes, it would be more convenient having lines from the spring to the house but we had no storage tanks until recently. That’s also another reason for building the arctic entry, we can keep the water tank from freezing. It’ll all come together, it just takes time and money.

[@AlaskanFreedom]

Haha.... everything is priority number 1 living off-grid with long winters, you do what you can do.

[@ouralaskahomestead]

@ exactly!

[@дмитриймартынкин-ы8к]

на 4мин. натяните трос на деревья,для безопасности (rus)

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Good idea

[@bigdaddy9ers485]

Why don’t you feel like a water storage on it some of the trees you have there why don’t you cut some of those trees down and eat instead of making the cutting the logs and pieces why don’t you just leave the dogs the way they are after you cut the trees and make like a little cabin for your water for your water tank and then kinda insulate it the best way you can that you keep the snow and stuff from freezing the tank and you’ll still be able to leave the pump and everything in there and then you can run your pipe and just make sure that your pipe is insulated and then if you can afford it get you someone that has an excavator and dig a hole so you can run the pipe from your pump up to the house

[@ouralaskahomestead]

Those sound like great ideas!