Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> We have a well on the property but I'm thinking that
> installing pump ect. brobably will be more expensive
> than hooking up to the rural water system,  $650
> hookup fee + twice as much pipe to run out to the
> road.
> Any thoughts on that.

Any unused well is a question mark. Talk to local well drillers to 
see if one has the record of how deep yours is. Talk to your 
neighbors and ask them how much they spend for each system. Many will 
no doubt still be on wells but some will be on the system. Using the 
well, if it is good, gives you more protection against future price 
hikes for rural water system and more control over quality. You are 
then subject to potential rises in electricity and outages. If you 
are served by one of the many Missouri electric coops, the recent 
rate hike, the first in twenty years, must be used to calculate well 
delivery costs. If your area has frequent outages you may wish to 
consider a generator. Depends on how dependent you become on either 
system and how you prepare for the inevitable problems. When we have 
a big storm coming through we fill a couple clean buckets. Saves 
having to carry water from the stream if the electricity goes out.