It's been a dream of mine for quite a few years to become self-reliant. Now at twenty-two years of age and a solid job under my belt, it's time to begin saving for the things I need to survive and to start seriously considering what those things are in detail.
I think a good place to start would be water, being that it is the most essential nutrient for survival. I've done a little bit of research on harvesting rainwater, drilling a water well, and the purification of either one, but I haven't found exactly what I'm looking for yet. I'd like to find a water system that is simple, requires little maintenance, does not use PVC, does not rely on electricity, and does not require me to rely on society to purchase goods to purify the water.
Some questions I have about wells:
1. In most instances, will this water be safe for consumption?
2. Do you know of any information on hand-pump wells or wells that don't require electricity to harvest the water?
3. Is it plausible to dig by hand?
4. Should I just save more money and hire someone for the job?
Some questions about rain water:
1. In most instances, will this water be safe for consumption?
2. Do you know of any information on rain water systems that don't require electricity to harvest the water?
3. Are there purification systems that don't require electricity or the use of chemicals that I would have to purchase (chlorine, bleach)?
My main question is this: What is the best source of drinking water? Are there other options I have not considered? I am not completely against using a system that requires electricity; it's just something I'd like to avoid. Is it possible to avoid purification?
Feel free to add any information I didn't talk about and share your own experiences! What kind of system do you use for drinking water? What is your ideal system?
