Treatment for stored collected water in cisterns
I have a low flowing shallow source of water under soil over bedrock I would like to use for my cabin. I think it comes from surface runoff uphill. Location is on a mountain with only wild nature uphill. I want to store it in a 2000 gallon cistern and run a pressurized system from there to feed kitchen bath and hot water tank.
Do I need to filter and or UV treat this water before putting it in the cistern to prevent it from going bad? And UV treat again coming out of the cisterns into the cabin?
I remember visiting a place that put shallow source water directly into a cistern which fed the house with no treatment or filters.
I do not necessarily need the water to be potable, but that would be a bonus.
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In a somewhat similar case and based on water testing, I add bleach to the tank and also use reverse osmosis for the potable portion.
How shallow of a source is it or is it surface water? Is it already a constructed shallow well? If not, you could construct a shallow well and incorporate primary filtration. Have you had the water tested? If you can find out what's in the water, that will help you with determining what type of filter system/s you may need. Test kits are cheap or at least let some water evaporate from a glass and see what it leaves behind.
Definitely as least use a rust and sediment filter going into the tank. Basic whole house filter $40.... Maybe even a second one before the pump, to keep the major stuff from entering the tank.
Then depending on what the test results are, that will drive your potable water requirements. If organisms are present then UV or pasteurizer/ distiller, otherwise carbon. If you pipe other fixtures separately, then a smaller micron filter may suffice for those non potable fixtures.
When your done, continue to test at different locations to see if any changes need to be made.
Bleach in the tank will work but be sure you use it sparingly and use the proper amount, it doesn't take much. Just keep an eye on it. If your usage is enough to keep bringing in fresh water it may not be necessary.
How much do you really know about the land you will be collecting water from?
Just because it looks like an empty field today does not mean it always was. It is possible that 100 years ago the lot was a tailing pile from a gold mine treated cyanide and mercury or an orchard with years of DDT exposure maybe the farmer wife did not like the dusty drive way and had it sprayed with waste oil every spring.
What does a well cost 6-10 thousand? Do you really want to risk your families health to save a few dollars?
Even if the land has been in the family what do you know for a fact.
Walta
I've used lime. It also does a good job of keeping mosquito larvae out of any rain water collection.