Cottage Water Systems: An Out-of-the-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and Privies [Paperback]

Max Burns (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1, 1999

If you have a pump, a well, a septic system, or an outhouse ...
If you winterize your water system or use it year round ...
Or if you simply care about the quality of the water your drink,
Cottage Water Systems will save you time, money, and headaches

Cottage Water Systems is written specifically with cottages -- and cottage problems -- in mind. It explains in a clear, easy-to-understand style how each component of the water system works, with dozens of tips on installation and repair, as well as troubleshooting guides to help you diagnose what's wrong with your system. Each chapter is accompanied by explanatory diagrams and illustrations.

Cottage Water Systems includes:

• how to choose the pump that's right for your property
• a guide to water quality and types of water purifiers
• foolproof methods for priming your pump
• the ins and outs of composting toilets and other alternatives
• how to extend the life of your septic system
• step-by-step instructions for closing a seasonal water system in the fall and opening it in the spring
• how to build a first-class outhouse
• ways to get water in winter
• how to keep the cottage's environmental impact low
• North American sources for water-system components
• plus wells, gray water systems, and more.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This is a user-friendly manual, easy to read, carefully broken into thirteen chapters...what research! (Carlos Amantea RALPH: The Review of Arts, Literature, Philosophy, 20060622)

A great book... Clear and illustrative... The reader will appreciate the way Burns is so thorough in his explanations. (Linda Turk Chronicle-Journal (Thunder Bay) )

About the Author

Max Burns is a regular contributor to Cottage Life magazine, and how won several National Magazine Awards for his work. He specializes in how-to journalism, and the subjects he writes about are as varied as his interests -- everything from docks to butter tarts. He is currently building a passive solar home within shouting distance of his cottage in northern-Ontario. Cottage Water Systems is his second book.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Cottage Life Books; Revised edition (January 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 096969220X
• ISBN-13: 978-0969692201
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.9 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #421,956 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars As valuable as a "Time Life" book on how to drive a nail., January 21, 2001

By 

Clinton J. Fisher (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Cottage Water Systems: An Out-of-the-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and Privies (Paperback)

This book is a glossy generalists dream. If you don't know what a well is, buy this book. If you don't know what a septic tank is, buy this book. If you can't tell the difference between a submrsible pump or a jet pump, buy this book.

If you want to design or install your own hideaway water system, forget it. The author makes to frequent use of "consult your owners manual", "local authorities" or "hire someone" to have any real value.

This book would benefit the rural homeowner who has never owned a well, septic, etc. and needs to talk with a repair service. It would be unadvisable to attempt installation or repair of any system with knowledge gained from just this book.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Cottage Water Systems - A Bible for Cabin and Cottage Owners, March 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cottage Water Systems: An Out-of-the-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and Privies (Paperback)

If you are going to buy one, and only one book about maintaining a cottage water and sewer system, this is it. The definitive bible on how to keep everything working. Supplemented with excellent illustrations and drawings, Cottage Water Systems is indispensable. About the only criticism we have is that there could be a few more options for pump hook-ups and that some of the addresses are out of date. But all-in-all, this is a truly outstanding book worth the money.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful source of information for anyone with a well, January 7, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Cottage Water Systems: An Out-of-the-City Guide to Pumps, Plumbing, Water Purification, and Privies (Paperback)

I am a Health Inspector in New Brunswick and many houses in rural areas require well and septic disposal fields. I found this book well written and informative. A must-read for new home owners who are dealing with wells and on-site sewage disposal fields for the first time.