Off-Grid Living: Water Systems for Coastal Villages & Towns

While off-grid living promises communities greater control over the resources used, it is not without challenges. In fact, the road to self-sufficiency can be challenging if you don’t have reliable means to fulfil your daily chores. One significant necessity is a reliable and sustainable water source – a man’s primal need. 

For coastal communities living off-grid, selecting the right water system is essential to ensuring daily needs are met without disruptions. Given that you need water for a majority of activities, it will be one of the important decisions you will make. While there are many options available, you have to consider their advantages and drawbacks in relation to water availability, environmental impact and long-term sustainability before investing in one. 

How Do Off-Grid Water Systems Work?

Off-grid water systems are solutions independent of the centralised public water system – otherwise known as the grid water system. They usually source water from natural resources like open freshwater bodies or groundwater. Yet, they are similar in functionality, allowing you to collect, filter, purify, and store fresh water for use. 

Primarily, off-grid systems   source water from freshwater bodies like rivers or lakes, underground using wells, or in the case of coastal villages and towns, from oceans through desalination. Therefore, if you are opting for off-grid living, you need to be in close proximity to a reliable source of freshwater. For coastal villages and towns where direct freshwater may not be an option, desalination can be the ideal alternative solution. 

People can opt for off-grid water solutions for a myriad of reasons like public utilities being inaccessible or unreliable, concerns regarding water quality, or purely for self-sufficiency motives. 

While there are many options for off-grid water solutions, the suitability of the system depends on the location, terrain conditions, availability of water sources, and environmental factors. Here are some common off-grid water solutions.

Groundwater Pump Systems

Groundwater systems use pumps to draw water from wells drilled into the ground to access an aquifer. It consists of water stored between rock layers underground, typically accessed through wells, aquifers, and springs.

How do groundwater systems work?

Pumps draw water from wells by drilling into the ground to access an aquifer in groundwater systems. You can purify and store it in water tanks. Alternatively, if groundwater naturally flows through an open source like a spring, people can collect it directly without drilling.

The cost of drilling wells can be costly. However, groundwater is a cleaner and reliable source to fulfil your freshwater needs. Still, rainfall plays a major role in its availability. Without precipitation for prolonged periods, it can be scarce in supply. Another concerning problem associated with groundwater in coastal areas is increased salinisation. Due to climate change, sea levels are on the rise and intrusion of seawater can make freshwater underground undrinkable. 

Rainwater Harvesting Systems

Sourcing freshwater from rain is a long-standing practice, especially in coastal areas that receive sufficient rainfall and have limited access to fresh water.

How do they work?

Rainwater is harvested using special gutters installed on roofs or from specially designed catchment surfaces. The collected water then goes through a filtration process to remove any bacterial growth or other pollutants present before being directed to a water storage tank. Once stored, it can be obtained whenever needed for varying purposes. 

Despite the initial investment, rainwater harvesting is a cost-effective and eco-friendly water system for remote areas. Still, the biggest drawback remains in its unreliability. Climate change has aggravated the drought conditions and in areas that don’t receive frequent rain, this source can be very unreliable.