With the fall and winter storms fast approaching, I'm getting more antsy about power outages. We're already mostly set up to be able to function without power - lanterns, woodstoves for heat, cast iron for cooking on said woodstoves, etc, etc. Our big problem - one I haven't been able to figure out how to economically work around - is that our well pump is powered on the grid. Hence, no power, no water....
The cheapest option, of course, is to get a manual pump and handle and fit it to the top of the well head. As long as it's not so cold that the water in the pipe freezes, it would work....although darn chilly to go get. Personally, I'd rather find a way to put the pump on a source of back-up power (makes it so much easier to use the toilets, too....)
Anybody already rigged up for a situation like this? Or suggestions in general? I don't have my heart set on any particular type of solution, although I was leaning more towards the greener spectrum (like solar/pv) as opposed to a generator requiring a fuel source of some sort. Thanks in advance....