Lake water for cabin use
#6729738
01/15/20 11:04 AM
01/15/20 11:04 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,218 Northern Minnesota
BernieB.
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,218
Northern Minnesota
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Seems like there's someone on this site who has the answer to about any question, so here goes mine.
I just bought a 4-acre piece of lakeshore near Grand Rapids, MN and it has a 36x48 insulated pole building on it, with about half of it turned into living quarters. The property only has an outhouse, no running water.
I plan to put a bathroom (toilet, shower, laundry) in the building and run fresh water to the kitchen sink, and I got a quote for a new well which was $6000 plus the water will not be very good I was told (lots of iron) so I looked into a filtration system. I can get a really good filtration system for only about $1000 and put in a lake pump with a pressure tank to filter lake water. We will not be living there, it will just be a family fishing and camping retreat although some day my wife and I may spend the summer there.
So my questions: who has experience with this? What things should I be looking for? What kind of a screening system do I need for the water pickup and how far into the lake does it need to be (depth) etc. Do I need to put in a full septic with drain field or just maybe a tank? The outhouse has a septic with drain field, but it's a little uphill from the living quarters, is it possible to pump the septic uphill somehow?
Lot's to think about and I am looking for input.
Last edited by BernieB.; 01/15/20 11:04 AM.
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Re: Lake water for cabin use
[Re: BernieB.]
#6729763
01/15/20 11:43 AM
01/15/20 11:43 AM
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Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 7,240 West Michigan
Getting There
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Posts: 7,240
West Michigan
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First you can put In a lift pump to your septic system. If you are by a lake your water table might be hi. Put in a well, DO NOT take water out of the lake to drink etc. Most places in Mi. has hi iron. Put in a well and see if you have very hi iron levels. If so then put in a filtering system. If you are going to live there only a few months out of the year have the water tested by the health Dept. it is very cheap to have done. When you system is being used all the time it is unlike you will have any problem but when you are draining the system every year you are opening your system to all kinds of issues. JMO
To Old U.S. Army 60-63 SGT.
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Re: Lake water for cabin use
[Re: BernieB.]
#6729791
01/15/20 12:04 PM
01/15/20 12:04 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,863 MN
160user
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,863
MN
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Itasca County has some "wonky" laws and septic systems and wells are 2 of the worst. I don't believe that you can pull water from the lakes here anymore. They are even cracking down on outhouses now. I believe your well and septic will need to be brought up to code within 2 years of the purchase date or you will get a hefty fine. Spend the money and do it right the first time. Also, welcome to the county of 1,000 taxes!
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Lake water for cabin use
[Re: BernieB.]
#6729820
01/15/20 12:49 PM
01/15/20 12:49 PM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,445 revillo, sd
cohunt
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revillo, sd
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Carefully consider the situation of your specific lot and lake before doing any thing. IF there is any chance that a second and/or third tier of homes/cabins will be built behind(above) your lot away from the lake, be sure you go with a deep well. MANY existing lake homes on developed lakes that are first tier(adjacent to the water) now have other homes setting above them whose septic systems are feeding directly into the ground water which is slowly moving downhill through the soil into the lake but in so doing, is passing under the lake side home and through the water they are using via sand point. Also be careful to consider the future impact of your own septic on your water supply. Nothing you can do about the effect of the existing outhouse but carefully consider the location, distance and type of system you may later build. VERY few local septic folks are versed on groundwater movements.
Last edited by cohunt; 01/15/20 01:01 PM.
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Re: Lake water for cabin use
[Re: cohunt]
#6730837
01/16/20 08:07 AM
01/16/20 08:07 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,218 Northern Minnesota
BernieB.
OP
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,218
Northern Minnesota
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Carefully consider the situation of your specific lot and lake before doing any thing. IF there is any chance that a second and/or third tier of homes/cabins will be built behind(above) your lot away from the lake, be sure you go with a deep well. MANY existing lake homes on developed lakes that are first tier(adjacent to the water) now have other homes setting above them whose septic systems are feeding directly into the ground water which is slowly moving downhill through the soil into the lake but in so doing, is passing under the lake side home and through the water they are using via sand point. Also be careful to consider the future impact of your own septic on your water supply. Nothing you can do about the effect of the existing outhouse but carefully consider the location, distance and type of system you may later build. VERY few local septic folks are versed on groundwater movements. The current outhouse is sitting on top of the septic tank and the drainfield goes to the north, the building is 200 feet to the south, so I should be good there. 200+ feet seems like a long way to pump but it's cheaper than putting in a new septic I suppose. If I put in a well it will be beside the building and then run a hydrant over to where I may put a couple RVs for my kids to stay in when they visit. There is one house on a small property (5 acres) behind me and the rest is hundreds of acres of timber company land. Should be good there. Thanks to all who have posted, this is helpful.
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Re: Lake water for cabin use
[Re: BernieB.]
#6730973
01/16/20 10:14 AM
01/16/20 10:14 AM
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 2,785 Northern lower Michigan
Feedinggrounds
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Northern lower Michigan
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My home has a driven shallow well @ 25 foot, at 17 foot went through 3 foot of clay hard pan water sand under it. Static pressure brings water to top of pipe, no pressure but requires a cap without pump hooked as it will flood pit. Hunting camp a few miles away is the same, just a couple foot deeper and pump with a hand pump. Both test fine. Northern lower Michigan glacier sand and gravel hills.
you're only allowed so many sunrises... I aim to see every one of them!
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Re: Lake water for cabin use
[Re: 330-Trapper]
#6731008
01/16/20 10:50 AM
01/16/20 10:50 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,218 Northern Minnesota
BernieB.
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OP
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,218
Northern Minnesota
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Are You going to Bear Hunt out of there?
You're right....the Fun part is the planning Probably. It's only 2 and 3 points to draw in that area versus 5 points or more here.
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Re: Lake water for cabin use
[Re: BernieB.]
#6731018
01/16/20 11:05 AM
01/16/20 11:05 AM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,863 MN
160user
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,863
MN
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Are You going to Bear Hunt out of there?
You're right....the Fun part is the planning Probably. It's only 2 and 3 points to draw in that area versus 5 points or more here. Draw a tag and come shoot one of the diaper eaters off my place.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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Re: Lake water for cabin use
[Re: 330-Trapper]
#6731150
01/16/20 01:16 PM
01/16/20 01:16 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,863 MN
160user
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 17,863
MN
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Whats a diaper eater 160? LoL A bear. Those pigs will eat anything. You can see them at the landfill eating dirty diapers. I hate bears. I am glad you guys enjoy hunting them. I have no use for them at all.
I have nothing clever to put here.
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