The Price of Water

I’ve always thought that it would be awesome to live completely off the grid—not in a “Mad Max” kind of way, but in a way where I wouldn’t have to rely on any kind of municipality utility.?

A good friend of mine did exactly that. He bought a farm in Melbourne, Australia, and for the past 20-plus years, he’s spent his life single-handedly building everything one would need to live off the grid. He built a dam and filled it with fish. He built a windmill to pump fresh water. Despite the erratic Melbourne weather, he installed solar panels. He built a greenhouse for plants and vegetables. He built a chicken coup and had fresh eggs until his dogs ate the chickens. He bought some sheep, so he didn’t have to mow the lawn. Seeing this piece of dirt he bought evolve into a magnificent, working, thriving farm has been incredible. It hasn’t been without its challenges, but the payoff seems worth all the sweat he put into it. Bravo Grant!?

I moved houses about two years ago and thought I’d done a thorough job with my due diligence. Then, I received my first water bill. My previous house, less than a mile away, cost me about $25 per month for water. My new house charged me about $1,000 for my first month. I thought there was a mistake, a water leak, or the clerk had added a few digits in error. But after lots of back and forth, I was advised that the bill was correct. Clean water costs a lot more on this side of the street.?

When I asked one of my neighbors his opinion on the price of water in the neighborhood, he said, “That’s why I have a brown lawn and stink. I can’t afford to turn my sprinklers on, and I take short showers.” Now that I think of it, he does spend a lot of time in his outdoor jacuzzi.

So, I researched windmills and water pumps. It’s amazing what you can find on YouTube. I’m hoping to convince my Australian friend to take a sabbatical to help me build one, but I‘m not sure how my neighbor will feel about a 25-foot structure right next to his driveway.?

Side Bar:

One of the best documentaries I ever saw was Zac Efron’s “Down to Earth.” What a great series! Episode 2 focuses on water, and I guarantee that if you watch this, you won’t think about H2O the same way again.?

Let’s do this!?