Water is one of most important things that you will need for your camp. It can be hardest or easiest thing to find. A clear lake and a bucket is cheapest way you'll be able to get a good supply. It is important that water you use be free from harmful bacteria. Taste is no substitute for a test of good drinking water.

Local health authorities are usually willing to test water for you. Other agencies that will tell you whether water is suitable include State Health Departments, County Health Offices, and Health Hygienic Laboratories.

Now let's get back to problem of how we're going to get running water into your camp without depending upon some leaks in roof. Water can be obtained from a dug well, a bored well, a drilled well, or from surface sources such as lakes, springs, or cisterns.

A dug well is usually used where rocky soil prohibits use of a driven well, and where water can be reached by simple excavation. Basically it is a hole in ground. Perhaps first thing to do in building a dug well is to inquire from your neighbors whether they have used this type of water source.

If their report is satisfactory, you should start considering best location for such a well. Be sure that it is located at least 100 feet from your sewage system and drain field. It should also be located on higher ground.

Having found best location, start digging a hole about 4 feet in diameter. As you dig, be sure that you use cross braces to keep upper earth in place. Eventually you will (maybe) reach water. The lower section of well should be lined with brick or stone. Do not use mortar.

Galvanized steel pipe is usually used for line from your well to pump. There is another type of pipe that can be used on cold water services of your system. This pipe is made of polyethylene. It looks like a garden hose but is many times stronger. It has advantage of being much more flexible and lighter than any of rigid types. Never use this type of pipe on hot-water lines.

One cubic foot of storage space holds 7.48 gallons. The capacity of a round container is 1/2 diameter multiplied by itself X 3.14 X depth X 7.48. If a cistern is 10 feet in diameter and 6 feet deep, capacity is (5 X 5 X 3.14 X 6 X 7.48) 3,523.08 gallons. Sea level: In talking about lift of various pumps, I have said that certain pumps would be satisfactory if water level was within 22 feet of surface of earth.

Such a pump would lose about I foot of suction lift for each 1,000 feet of elevation above sea level. If altitude at your camp site is 2,000 feet, a shallow-well pump will have to be located within 20 feet vertical distance from working normal water level, instead of 22 feet.

As you would expect, cottages include space for bathrooms. Some camps show a shower instead of a tub. The plumbing problems are similar for all camps.

The locality in which you build may have some special requirements. Do check with local authorities. You may decide to have local plumber install all your piping and fixtures. If so, you probably aren't interested in this section. But if you have decided to turn plumber, description below should be helpful.

All necessary parts can be bought from your local plumbing dealer, or from major mail-order houses. It is also possible to rent necessary tools. Where do we start? If I were doing job, I'd start with fitting that drains seat and tub. On floor of bathroom mark where this fitting (I) is to go.

Most seats measure 14 inches or less from back of tank to center of closet bowl. Cut a hole large enough to take small end of closet collar. Install this fitting permanently in position with closet bend sticking up to within 1/2 to % inches of floor surface. It will be necessary to support fitting with wood or metal hangers.