Off-Grid Water Upgrade: How We Rebuilt Our Mountain Spring

For the first time in over 20 years, we finally rebuilt the spring that supplies our off-grid homestead. The original spring was tapped long before I arrived here — a simple pipe pushed into a wet spot created after a huge tree uprooted on the mountainside. For the past decade, it’s quietly fed our water system: from the spring, to a small settling tank, a mile-long line through the woods, and eventually into two 2,500-gallon storage tanks that gravity-feed our home.

After days of clearing brush, cutting a path, and opening up the overgrown spring site, the real work began. This video starts at that point: the moment we exposed the original spring and Andrew dug into the mountainside, uncovering a seam of clean water running through the rock.

To rebuild the spring head, we:

• Used a transfer pump to keep the hole drained while working
• Hauled gravel and softball-sized rocks to rebuild the base
• Installed an HDPE bamboo rhizome barrier as a sealed spring box wall
• Packed red clay and bentonite clay around the barrier for extra protection
• Drilled and installed a 1.5” PVC inlet to collect the water
• Surrounded the inlet with stone for filtration
• Ran the new inlet into poly pipe that feeds our first settling tank

We then disinfected the entire system: bleaching the inlet box, flushing the settling tank, and sending treated water down the full mile of line into our main storage tanks.

Next came a job long overdue — cleaning out the two 2,500-gallon tanks for the first time since I’ve lived here. Using the only ladder that fit into the tank opening — a 3-story escape ladder — I climbed inside, shoveled out 5 inches of sludge, scrubbed the walls and floor with bleach, rinsed everything, and climbed back out. The difference was immediate.

Flow rate during the rebuild: 5 gallons in 4 minutes (≈1.25 GPM).

We had our share of challenges — like a broken O-ring that we temporarily fixed with gasket maker — but overall we were lucky with weather, and even the bears left our supplies alone.

This project took us about two weeks, working on and off between storms, other chores, fun and relaxing. It was a massive job, but one we’re grateful to have done — for cleaner water, for our family’s health, and for the long-term safety of our off-grid home.

If you enjoy real off-grid projects, homestead repairs, and honest mountain living, we’d love to have you here.
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