DIY: Designing an Off-grid Water System for Hunting/Fishing Camp

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Having a reliable water source is a game-changer for any hunting or fishing camp. This system is designed around a single shallow well pump that handles everything from pulling water in to distributing it throughout camp—including hot water!

Materials Needed

Shallow Well Pump
Large Water Storage Tank
PVC Pipe and Assorted Valves
Half-inch and Three-quarter inch PEX or similar lines
Thermal Expansion Tank
Electric Water Heater
Custom "Wand" (PVC pipe cut at an angle)
Manifolds (Cold and Hot)

Step 1: Set Up the Main Tank and Pump

The heart of the system is a very large storage tank connected to a shallow well pump. Use PVC pipe and valves to link the tank to the pump intake. This allows you to control the flow of water into the system and ensures you can isolate components for maintenance. [00:13]

Step 2: Build the Distribution Manifolds

As the water leaves the pump, it needs to be distributed. We use two manifolds:

Cold Water Side: Distributes water through half-inch lines throughout the camp for sinks or cleaning stations. [00:26]
Hot Water Side: A three-quarter inch line runs through a thermal expansion tank and into an electric water heater. Once heated, it feeds the hot water manifold for distribution. [00:37]

Step 3: Prepare the Filling "Wand"

The secret to replenishing your tank from an external source (like a blue barrel in the back of a truck) is a custom wand. Cut the end of a PVC pipe at a sharp angle. This prevents the wand from sucking to the bottom of your barrel and restricted flow. [00:55]

Step 4: Connect the External Source

To fill the main tank:

Put the wand into your external water source (the blue barrel).
Attach the other end of the wand's hose to the system's drain valve—the lowest point in your setup. [01:14]
Run a separate hose from an external faucet on your manifold back into the top of the main tank. [01:29]

Step 5: Transition and Fill Without Losing Prime

This is the tricky part—you want to switch sources without the pump losing its prime:

Turn on the external faucet so water loops from the main tank, through the pump, and back into the tank. [01:43]
Slowly open the drain valve so the pump starts pulling from both the main tank and the blue barrel. [02:02]
Gradually turn the main tank's inline valve halfway, then all the way off. This forces the pump to pull exclusively from the blue barrel to fill the tank. [02:14]

Step 6: Switch Back to Storage

Once your blue barrel is empty, reverse the process. Turn the inline valve back to the open position to pull from the main tank, then close the drain valve and shut off the external faucet. Your system is now topped off and ready for camp life! [02:35]