For anyone interested in US Water systems make sure to us “homestead5” for an additional 5% off any purchases.

As I treat water for a living I was wondering did you disinfect your home plumbing? With the UV system you should have bacteria free water. But if there was some bacteria in your home plumbing before your started the UV system it could still be there. Standard practice is to add household bleach to your supply water and open each faucet in the system until you smell bleach. Then close all faucets up and let the system set for 24 hours. Then flush the entire system out. I would remove the radial carbon filter when doing this as the bleach will shorten its lifespan. This process assures that your now clean water is in a clean system. You could just add some bleach to one of your holding tanks of your choosing to get it into the system. This was really helpful and well done. Thanks for sharing.

Nearly identical system here in the Virgin Islands. 📍 log and/or painters tape with dates for each filter and bulb replacement. 📍 where is your pressure check/log? ❓ does your UV have a window to check if the bulb is burnt out? 📍 extra notes: 0) Google calendar reminder for regular checks. 1) separate your systems. Toilets and lawn hose do not need UV filtered water. 2) filter the rain water from debris. Sock filter for larger debris, then sediment filter (or sand filter or diatomaceous earth). Shut off valve to stop intake when cleaning your roof. Cleanest roof water for primary cistern for eventual purification. Overflow one-way into second cistern. Second cistern is for lawn/toilet/clothes washing machine and catches water from other roofs/decks. Also, sock filter and a simple sediment filter. Overflow one-way to third cistern. Third cistern used for filling your pool (which has its own pump and filter) should also have a sock and simple sediment filter. Put a deck over the top. The deck can also act as fill for your third cistern. Stone deck material can be nice with a porous limestone and tiny grates in the gaps. Substrate is corrugated roof/deck metal and concrete. 3) trench and make your cisterns subterranean. Use geothermal cooling system to subsidize your air conditioning bill. If the cistern doesn’t have enough thermal capacity for the entire home, prioritize a dedicated single room (probably your bedroom). Btw, there are watertight shipping containers for a budget cistern. Else, concrete and lined primary cistern. Other cisterns only need marine concrete and seal. Cisterns and pool can be thought of as a home foundation, separated like single lane garages. If building all at once, you can easily make the cisterns flow (one-way 1-3). Be sure to have a 4th lane and don’t cover/deck that lane. In fact, shape it, shallow/deep ends, stairs, and have fun. That is your swimming pool. 4) solar hot water heater. Additional instant heat line for kitchen sink and bathroom showers. 5) solar power and a Tesla power wall-type battery solution. 6) septic. Are you off grid? 7) possible grey water catch from showers for fourth cistern. Modified filter for “lawn/landscape” irrigation. Or filter soap/debris and fill an outdoor pond. Research available if you look up earth-ship-homes. 8) hydroponics (and/or aquaponics) can be drawn from secondary cistern. Either deep in a service garage for stable year-round conditions, or a seasonal surface garden that can have a summer sunshade (and winter frost shade) area. 9) power outages often? Hurricanes here. Notes/instructions for closing valves (backflow). Keep an insulated small roof reservoir of purified water for gravity kitchen water and outdoor shower (be sure input valve is closed if power is out for a long while). This can be part of your regular system for continuous flow and fresh water in the gravity reservoir. Battery power wall solution? Else, 2 generators. Primary for the home, and a smaller backup that can be manually moved and used for essentials (refrigerator, emergency LED lights, water purifier, and/or bilge water pump from a cistern for the outdoor shower/kitchen solution. Or enough battery/generator power to charge the pumps and tanks for home water. You’d also need a reservoir for the separated non-purified water for the toilet/shower system water.

I would love to see the comparison in water quality in your future video. How fun !

Thats a good filter for your house, if you made the same thing with pentair 4.5x20 canisters you have a wider option of filters that are just as good and half the price, the pentair housings are going strong 10 years later out in the sun (looking crispy), neat plumbing by the way. UV bulbs aren't fool proof if the flow rate is too high or you have hard water, some minerals block the uvc light. An RO membrane is the only garuntee of bacterialogical safety and removal of minerals. Sanatize your plumbing your plumbing connections down stream by adding a little bleach into that bleed hole and letting the system pump up and then flush it, things will grow in that white plastic and it will suprise you how slimey it is in 5 years. - water systems tech

I like your “belt suspenders” philosophy on the Teflon tape and pipe dope! 😊

I am not sure about this system, but when I have installed RO systems, I purged the first several gallons as waste and not into the tank. This is to make sure any remnants of manufacturing doesn’t enter the tank or plumbing.

Great system & walkthrough. I’ll be recommending this video to my clients. Your videos always make everything look so easy! Hard to be “scared” of upgrading after watching you do it. 😁

Live in papua, we’ve been on rainwater for years, this seems like a great upgrade to our saywer filtier in the kitchen!

I liked how you used a KZfaq short to preview/give a heads up of the main video.

i love how cleanly you work.

You make everything you do so neat and tidy! Great job Joe!

Yah know... I've always wondered but never looked into it so I'm glad you came up. I really like how you acknowledged that setting up a new system can be a little intimidating and how you overcame that hurdle. Super well-organized and informative. Thank you!

Thank you for this. I will admit, I have been intimidated by the plumbing. I have been without running water for just over 5 years. I was hoping to have it done this year, but it hasn't happened. There's just been one thing after another that comes up and takes me away. Now I am dealing with a sick goat. Hopefully, with this video, and if nothing else comes up to keep me away from it, I can get it done before the end of next year.

We’re thinking of doing the same Joe. We put in two small under sink filters in so we can access drinking water at either end of our house and they seem to be working well, but the filters need more frequent changing than I’m guessing a whole house system would. Thanks for sharing this.

Thank you for sharing your experience. Your videos are always very informative and well worth the watch!

you dont want pressure tank after filters you want to put pressure tank before filters, that way no matter how bad filters clog up or some kinda leak develops in the housing your pump wont run non stop burn out, and will always build up consistent pressure,. also pressure tank usually has bunch of junk unless its brand new, you'll be running bunch of filtered water though previous build up of gunk, which kinda negates whole filter set up, this is probably also why you didn't notice any pressure drop since your pressure switch still wants to meet the pressure requirement after going through all filters, typically each filter will drop your psi about 1-3 range per filter

Always a pleasure watching your videos! Informative and attention to detail is always spot on!

Zillion thank you's, didn't even know they had these kinds of systems. I was looking at something much cruder and non-drinkable, this opens alot of doors of possibility.

I like the system set up, and how straight forward it seems, and am looking forward to the water testing video in the future. :)

Love your neatness!

I’m impressed, this looks like an awesome system, thanks 👍😁

I'm not from the US. But I think it'd be nice if they made the (4) filter housings in clear plastic also.

Hi Joe I have been learning many things from your channel. Thank you very much.

Perfect timing i was looking at doing a filtering system this morning. I dont like/trust my city water

More great content, Joe! Hope the family is doing well. Merry Christmas to you and your family.

You haven’t been posting much have you? I’ve been subscribed for years and have really missed seeing your videos, hope all is well! Glad you’re back! (?)

WOW Joe you do fantastic work, I always enjoy watching your videos, I really like how your work is always nice and neat. Keep the videos coming. God Bless

I'll be checking into this system. Thanks for making this video

Nice setup Joe! 😃👍🏼👊🏼

This looks a great system! US Water is here in Texas as well, and I'd love to have one for my farm in Western North Carolina. We've got a well, and I like the idea of the UV light!

Good job sir! thanks for sharing your skills and knowledge.

I've been spending time spec'ing out my eventual retirement compound, and this is definitely on the list. When I do it though, I'll probably double up the filters in parallel so that they last four times as long. If the house needs 10gpm, then each set is still good until they hit 5gpm instead of 10. Save money on filters, add redundancy, and the plumbing is only slightly more complicated.

Your just a little jack of all trades. I don't know what you was going to expect when you drank the water...... lol..... it was priceless I would say. I know you know this question, you do know if there where pathogens in your water, you wouldn't know anything for days or weeks. You sure would know when you would be running to the restroom that you had a bug. Oh I'm messing with you, I'm sorry. I just thought it was funny the way you drank the water & looked @ it & said it taste like water with a discuss look on your face. I so wanted you to say or do something funny. I really enjoyed the video & I learned something from it. You & your family have a great rest of 2023. God bless, Chris from Missouri

Nice setup.

You should really consider putting a surge protector on the UV light controller. A power surge will almost certainly blow the bulb out on the UV light or possibly wreck that fancy controller. I had a power surge the light on my RO+UV filter. Wasn't terribly expensive to replace the light but its a PITA when you can avoid it for 15-20$

Excellent work again Joe. With the digital key used on the device and it sitting inside a metal building I'm sure that you will protect it by grounding everything to a common ground rod to prevent electrical surges (differences of potential) due to high electron flows associated with lighting in the area. You shouldn't have a problem but digital equipment is suseptible to failure with the small tracings and bondings on the boards and in the chips, etc., in them. Hence, keeping everything at the same potential to mitigate the energy flow between different potentials.

Bookmarking this vid for my upcoming build

Nice overview...saved for future reference!

Nice clean install

Love your videos!

Great install. I would suggest to anyone buying such systems to do a little extra research inorder to avoid buying systems with proprietary filters and parts. Everything should be made with common parts to avoid servicing issues down the road.

We're on well water here in Ohio. No iron but plenty of magnesium and calcium floating around in there to get the faucets nice and crusty. Trying out one of those electronic descalers and I've been trying to figure out what components we need to clean up our water without resorting to a water softener. It is definitely a bit intimidating as it seems the options are endless. I'm certainly interested in some rainwater collection but would likely need to collect in a cistern to avoid everything freezing up in the winter. Thanks for the great videos!

Outstanding 🔥🦾

Well done Joe. Are you going to have a fake sign to open the mini door to the UV?😆 -KJ

Joe, can you do an update on the rainwater harvesting planters (trees, roadside drain area, etc). I am curious to see things after a few years.

Hey brother looks good.. Im fixing to install our UV light and i didn't think u could do pex off the UV light because the light will show thro the pex and it will break down the pex i think ur supposed to have copper or stainless steel atleast 6inches .. You may want to call them and ask just to be on the safe side let me know... A always keep it up brother.....

This is a comment. Rain is water from the sky. You are welcome.

Little tip, no UV should be mounted horizontally, those fingers holding up the end of the glass sleeve will break and you won’t notice it until you try and tighten the nut down which will break the sleeve, also (more so in well water) debris/scale can accumulate on the bottom side of chamber and removal can be tricky.

AGAIN...and as AWAYS...an excellent presentation! LOVE the new system!! I'm on their website... I'm assuming you got the "Well System"!?

The powder coated filter cartage hanger will fail and rust up. Get or make a aluminium hanger Starting with a 5 micron filter. You will have a shorter life span for it. 25 micron first . Then what ever you want to hang after that. Remember you have a open system. If you are off grid your UV light is on all the time creating a fantom draw . Run a small UV light under the sink where your drinking water source is and run it on a light switch at the sink for on demand drinking water. Your light will last years longer. Also run a Y strainer before your pump. I have been doing this for a long time .I hope this helps people out there Aloha

be nice if you could do a vid on outdoor solar lights. like cheapest to most expensive. ive been struggling to find cost effective good ones that dont die or break within 1 year of purchase. ive gotten dollar store,tsc and walmart brands thus far and am not really impressed. plus you being an arizonan you have the light output restraints i have w outdoor lighting here. been following u since i moved to tucson 6 years ago.keep up the great work boss. went to yer metal shop for my trailer build and they were awesome. thanks for the info in that vid awhile back.

Wow, I don't get it?? I live on a caribbean island and have been living on rain water for over 19 years. My water goes through one 10" X 2 1/2" 1 micron filter which I change every 2 months, and then through a UV filter. I change my UV bulb every 18 months - they recommend every 12 months. I have never had any issues in regards to this system. No issues with the taps, water comes out clear with nothing collecting in tap filters. Water tastes great. no one has every gotten ill. I did have to change the UV control box after approx. 14years.

Another great video presentation Joe. Well organized and highly informative. I noticed what looked like a USB key inserted into the system to initiate power. Does this system have WiFi connectivity to alert you if problems are detected? Good luck with your accommodation construction for the goats. Wishing you and your family a blessed holiday season filled with gentle seasonally appropriate weather and restful evenings together. Peace brother

Some tips. Don't tighten the filter housing with the wrench. Also add o'ring lubricant before tightening. Don't ask how I know. Had to replace an entire housing because I over tightened it and o'ring bound and couldn't be unscrewed it no matter what.

Sweet!

I like your channel, had to join.

Great Video! Just found your YT channel. LIked-Subscribed-Notified. Keep up the great work.

Awesome setup!!!!! Suggestion: to be safe, I would "hide" a couple systems underground also.... prepper mentality I guess!!! Happy Holidays! Amen Retired, Veteran

Love your rain 🌧️ roof systems buddy, amazing job, how is the water to drink?

Thanks for Sharing Joe, Great door handle nice custom touch. Are all the water cisterns full to capacity with the last rains you got at that certain time?

Thanks for the video. I am currently looking into a hybrid rain/well water system for our homestead. What is the PH of your rain water? Rain water is said to usually be somewhat acidic, with a PH of around 5. Have you done anything to balance the PH? If not, have you noticed any problems with corrosion in you metal plumbing and appliances? Thanks!

Excellent video, info and good workmanship. I may have missed it do you have the model number for the filters and uv bul

My understanding with UV filters is your supposed to have some sort of solid piping like metal on either end of it because it will decorate plastic over time. Is that particular filter different where you were able to use plastic piping on the one end and get away with only have to use the stainless steel on the other end?

really like this system.im offgrid down here in douglas now and hoping to finish house this year then all these lil projects. replacement filter and bulb pack price would b nice to know and how long they suggest b4 replacing said parts. saw the bulb said 375 days on dig display thats nice.

Looks like a very nice system. I have a couple of questions though. Have you had assayed your water quality from the before and after filtration? What are the dissolved minerals content?

Very nice setup. If you placed the filter unit on the output side of the pressure tank, would that cause too large of a pressure drop and house water flow would be too low? I was just thinking it would be nice to have the filters after the pressure tank, just to eliminate any contaminates coming from that tank. But maybe it would restrict the flow too much. I have a similar pressure tank on my well in Payson AZ and I need to add filters also. Thx

Those filters are made with pleated polyester, probably a good chance it's adding microplastics to the water, particularly in light of that study in PNAS. Doesn't seem like rainwater would need much filtering anyway. Seems like activated carbon + UV would be plenty.

Excellent! I am curious though why you didn't install a spin-down pre filter on your intake? Is it because rain water doesn't need it? I have a community water system and I had to put spin-down filters on mine but it was because I get a lot of >25um particulates. It made my filters last twice as long.

Nice setup but I have a few questions. 1. Did you connect your pump and UV power supply together so that your light only works when the pump is running? 2. I believe for the UV to have any beneficial effect it needs to have a continual water flow through it with the light on and intermitent short runs do not sterilize your water. Dave, South Africa

Wonderful video. I'm glad to see this project. What were your hesitancies in putting together a multi-stage DIY system?

Great vid! Thanks for sharing. Do you do anything to re- mineralize the water? What is the pH when it comes out of faucet? I'm just curious. We love your channel and have a chunk of property here in Arizona we eventually want to "homestead" in a sense. Your vids are priceless for information.

Is there a filter prior to the membrane filters you added? Something to take out macroscopic material (leaves and the like).

Hi Joe, Great video. Although I have tested my water for lead and it was ok, I have flirted with various filters. I may consider it again. Do you have to be concerned about the pipes, etc. in the pump house freezing? Beaver

How effective is the UV sterilizer considering the fast water flow rate, I would imagine water needs to be stagnant for maximum UV exposure for any meaningful sterilization to happen

Are you splitting the filtered water and unfiltered water for different uses? Such as washing machine, toilet probably doesn't need filtered water vs. cooking, drinking would need filtered water. It uses more water to get filtered water.

I Need This In My House In Berbera 😊 🎉

My concern about these systems utilizing the UV lamp, is how do you know it is still working? What happens if you loose power for a few minutes, can it potentially contaminate the system down stream from the light?

Great video. Checked out the site and they do not list the contaminants that the filter eliminates. That is an extremely important data set. I have a three-stage "coconut shell activated carbon" filter system under my kitchen sink, and it does a great job of filtering the water. It costs about $100 a year to change the filters. This system also uses a "coconut shell activated carbon" filter system, so it should eliminate most contaminants. It would be good to know if it eliminates PFAS and PFOS contaminants, since they are difficult for carbon filters to fully remove.

I’m curious about start up and maintenance costs. What’s the damage?

Reverse Osmosis is easier but wastes to much water for a rainwater system... I use RO on my "city" water that tastes like a swamp Some food grade grease on those O rings will help seal and extend their life a LOT. Available at brew supply stores... I use it in my beer kegs on the O rings

I like this set up to cover your whole house. My folks are currently using a reverse osmosis system under the kitchen sink that only covers the drinking water. Does this system do the samething as a reverse osmosis system? I understand your system covers the whole house versus ours, which only covers the drinking water from the kitchen. I would prefer a whole house system, since it allows you to drink safe water from any location in the home, rather than just from the kitchen. This set up is the best for a family who have kids that access water from any part of the home. Thanks for sharing this video. Time to do some research...lol

I ordered a four stage filter system and am a bit confused about the exact order. The filters I have are 5 micron sediment, UDF carbon filter, cation resin filter, carbon block filter.

You mentioned that the UV light draws 1 1/2 amp. I would think that the light is on only when there is actual water flow. Yes? So is there a flow sensor to turn the UV light on and off?

Careful running pex that close to the uv light it could degrade the piping if its not isolated.

Hello,... Could you tell me please what brand and model is your filtration system and what's the filtration capacity GPM (gallon per minute).... Thanks

Have you tested the filtration to ensure it removes all the PFAS that's in the rainwater?

Nice package, but hella expensive. Did you do a DIY comparison in terms of cost and quality?

Very useful video. Thank you Joe! 1) What carbon filtration you have in the kitchen? 2) How often you need to replace filters , including UV filter? Once a year? If so to keep it running, annual expense around $500? Correct me if I'm wrong.

okay so I think I will be out there, in Arizona I will need some guide, on how I will be happy to make a trade ;)

The pressing question is ongoing cost of the system. How frequently do the filter elements/UV bulb need to be replaced and the cost of the elements/bulb.

Do you add any minerals to the drinking water?

Off topic questions. What brand of watch are you wearing in the video and do you like it? I want a new watch. Yours look nice and I like the NATO strap.

@homesteadonomics if sunlight or UV can reach the Pex, you will need to do something to protect the PEX from the UV. Pex is super susceptible to UV degradation. is there anything to keep the water from acting like fiberoptics and transmitting the UV down the line to the Pex?

There are spin-down filters up to 15 micron, might be wroth the investment to safe some filter money.

Do you find you have more PFAS in your water than well water?

👍👍

What minerals are missing when you go to rainwater that you might normally get?

Great vid! I was waiting for something like this. Didnt you do a lab test before drinking it? 😮 I personally avoid combining drinkwater and plastic. I would use stainless steel containers and copper plumbing, but that will drive up the price i guess. Same for the filter holders. They should be made out of glass with a black coating on the outside. What happens to the UV light if you dont change the bulb every 275(?) days? Less intensive or do they just want to sell these as much as possible?😅

can this be attached outdoors or its not uv resistant?