How long should 2500 gallons of water last?

[Spidey]

Am in the process of buying an acreage. Just getting some confirmation on things, and one of my main things was having water.

This place has a 2500 gallon cistern that has to have water hauled to it. Cost is $75 according to the local water hauling company.

This is only for in house use, no lawn watering, etc. They have another system for that for everything outside that is a separate system. I'm still waiting on confirmation on how it is setup exactly.

The place I called said the people there know get it filled twice a month, so that would be $150. But he said on average most people get it once a month. I know it all depends on how good you are at water conservation.

We are pretty good at water conservation, so would anyone know how long 2500 gallons would last a family of five. Would a month be a good average

[CanadaBoy]

http://www2.auroragov.org/apps/utili...usage_calc.htm

[Spidey]

http://www2.auroragov.org/apps/utili...usage_calc.htm

Sweet. Thank you very much

Number of toilet flushes per week, have to average that I guess

[robertalan]

Typical estimates of absolute minimum water consumption is 5 gallons per person per day.

So a family of five might use 2500 gallons in about 3 months if they were super stingy.

For a fancier estimate of your own specific needs, you might try this water consumption calculator.

[ricoboxing]

your new toilet

problem solved!

[Spidey]

your new toilet

problem solved!

ha ha, thanks. Sorry i grew up with one of those till I was 8.

Thats right people, I didn't have running water till i was 8 years old. It was rain water saved, snow water melted in the winter, etc.

And that was in 1980. So when my kids complain, I always let them know that

[Spidey]

Typical estimates of absolute minimum water consumption is 5 gallons per person per day.

So a family of five might use 2500 gallons in about 3 months if they were super stingy.

For a fancier estimate of your own specific needs, you might try this water consumption calculator.

I'm thinking 2500 gallons would last us for a month for sure. And if we have to pay for it like this, Id probably be even more consciences.

[Spidey]

Also found out that sewer removal would be $100 a load (literally )

They said once a year for sure, 2x at most.

So not a huge make or break cost there

[CSK'sMom]

Ok Spidey, from what I am gathering, the house has a cistern and septic system. How many people currently live in the house? That might give you a rough idea on filling the cistern. Kids definitely increase the water consumption... extra laundry, baths vs. showers, etc. You'll have to train them on the "if it's yellow let it mellow" theory and no tp in the septic. Extra laundry can put a strain on a septic if the leach field isn't the greatest. No grease of any kind down the septic either, it will clog the leach field and lead to replacing it ($$$$$).

It sounds like they have a well as well. Even if you don't plan on using it for potable water have it tested anyway. Kids will be kids. If it's only used for watering it's also imperative to have it tested as it can contaminate things like veggies with nasties like e-coli...

[Spidey]

Ok Spidey, from what I am gathering, the house has a cistern and septic system. How many people currently live in the house? That might give you a rough idea on filling the cistern. Kids definitely increase the water consumption... extra laundry, baths vs. showers, etc. You'll have to train them on the "if it's yellow let it mellow" theory and no tp in the septic. Extra laundry can put a strain on a septic if the leach field isn't the greatest. No grease of any kind down the septic either, it will clog the leach field and lead to replacing it ($$$$$).

It sounds like they have a well as well. Even if you don't plan on using it for potable water have it tested anyway. Kids will be kids. If it's only used for watering it's also imperative to have it tested as it can contaminate things like veggies with nasties like e-coli...

That is what I am confirming. Why does that sound odd??

4 people live in the house right now. We have taught our kids good water conservations, and they know the "yellow" rule already

As for no TP in the septic why not, is breaks down in the water anyways. I know this will fill it up quicker, but other than that is there a reason.

I'm finding out the size of it and if it has an alarm as well for levels

From the question I asked about the sewage system they answered this. "Is a septic tank & field which should be emptied once a year"

No well, something called the St. Marys water system that is unlimited water for outside use. am confirming with the county about how this works exactly.

[CSK'sMom]

TP can be an issue in septic for a couple of reasons. It definitely will fill the septic quicker but it can also clog the system. Most "honey wagon" guys recommend putting as little as possible in septics. Some brands are worse than others as well at breaking up vs. clumping. If it clumps it can block the screens leading to the leach field and cause a backup. Septics when they back up are not pretty, it comes out of every drain source in the house. Oh, and no women's products down the toilet either.

Bleach is also a no-no with septics. It kills all the good bacteria that eat the solids. So that means no bleach in laundry. Dishwashers cause havoc with septic because of the bleach in the dishwasher detergents. It leads to much more frequent cleanouts and earlier failure of the system as a whole...

Is it 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 kids? That makes a big difference on water use. As I said, kids tend to generate more water usage.

[Spidey]

TP can be an issue in septic for a couple of reasons. It definitely will fill the septic quicker but it can also clog the system. Most "honey wagon" guys recommend putting as little as possible in septics. Some brands are worse than others as well at breaking up vs. clumping. If it clumps it can block the screens leading to the leach field and cause a backup. Septics when they back up are not pretty, it comes out of every drain source in the house. Oh, and no women's products down the toilet either.

Bleach is also a no-no with septics. It kills all the good bacteria that eat the solids. So that means no bleach in laundry. Dishwashers cause havoc with septic because of the bleach in the dishwasher detergents. It leads to much more frequent clean-outs and earlier failure of the system as a whole...

Is it 4 adults or 2 adults and 2 kids? That makes a big difference on water use. As I said, kids tend to generate more water usage.

Thanks for the heads up. We didn't have to worry about that on the farm, but we had a lagoon instead. So its basically night and day between the two.

Thats news to me for dishwashers, but it does make sense. But there are dishwashers on any acreage I have ever seen, so I'm sure the problems aren't new.

We rarely use bleach anyways, so no worries there.

2 adults, 3 small kids. But Like i said they are already water conscience, so i don't think ti will be a huge difference.

I just got off the phone with the Realtor. She found out i guess once a year all the close people get together and get the "honey truck" to come out so they can all save money. She also called the company to find out about the size and alarm, and they company said it was one of the better systems they have ever seen. so that makes me feel better

[Spidey]

OK, called a septic removal company to get the straight poop on this. (sorry, couldn't avoid that)

1. Bleach - definitely agreed with the that. The less the better. Although he said its pretty hard not to "ever" use it, but the less use use the better it is.

2. Toilet paper - he said its meant for that, so use it like you normally would. He said things like, paper towels, Kleenex, etc would clog, but not TP. We don't out those down anyways, so not an issue there.

3. Dishwasher/laundry detergent says they have an amount of bleach, yes. But if you are going to use them, full loads, etc. We do that anyways. he also said liquid detergents are better than the powders, as the powders have a lot of un-needed filler.

4. Definitely no Drano, which he said was bad anyways.

Also filled me in on the size of the leech Field, where it is and how far away

[CSK'sMom]

If you think about what a septic system actually is it all makes sense Spidey. Basically a septic is a large concrete box in the ground. The waste enters from the bottom. At the top of the box there are several "holes". Connected to those screened hole are the perforated pipes for the drainfield. Solids should sit at the bottom of the tank and the liquids from the top of the tank will empty out of the tank via the perforated pipes in the ground. The leach field will always have green grass that grows like crazy.

Dishwashers are something that one can either live without or you can't. Lots of folks on septics have tham because they can't live without them and feel it's an acceptable risk with the septic. But they realize the risk, that's the key. They don't run them unless it's an absolute full load and usually with less than the recommended amount of detergent to lessen the risk....

I'll also add that there are ways to get "free" water as well. Lots of folks on cisterns have their eavestroughs empty into their cisterns around here. They have UV light sanitizers and filter systems hooked up to their water line from the cistern. I always thought that every cistern user should have some sort of sanitizing and filter system set up anyway. Most aren't as vigilent as they should be about cleaning the cistern regularly....

[canadiantofu]

Better calculator

http://www.csgnetwork.com/waterusagecalc.html