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Where in the Midwest or East do you think is the cleanest water within a reasonable distance to civilization?
We have a well. It's water is clean.
We moved to an area that has never experienced a drought, nor any form of water shortage.
We have 1/4 mile of river frontage on our property, a few streams flow across our land, and for much of the year there is surface water slowly flowing across our land.
If you are looking at 'water-shortages', 'water-stress', or droughts; and if you are concerned with water access, I would recommend that you consider Maine.
'Self-Sufficiency' has been a common theme in this area among homesteads for many decades.
Every year we see more farms and more Farmer's Markets opening. There are multiple programs to help folks to get started in their journey.
Where in the Midwest or East do you think is the cleanest water within a reasonable distance to civilization?
I will give you our experience in SOuth FLorida. Water was abundant and shallow, there were no laws in our county to mandate minimum well depth so many people "saved money" (short term) by digging shallow wells - 20-40 ft or so. This means that you are very likely to drink your neighbor's pesticide and other "cide" lawn runoff - there is not enough soil to filter the water properly. In addition, there were numerous orange groves around and these are notorious for the huge amounts of chemicals used to keep the oranges happy. The county did have a minimum distance between septic system and a well requirement, it was 300 ft (this should tell you a lot). All in all, bad deal.
So, it is VERY local. Watch out for mining operations, large industrial farms or orchards or livestock operations, factories etc. Then check the local well depths. Also look into local geology - find information on the strata in your desired area between the surface and the average well depth. Finally, find a way to get chemical/bacteriological analysis on a typical well in the area. Water is all important and neither you nor your plants or livestock can survive without it, hence it is imperative it be good and clean. There are ways to make it clean(er) but you would rather start with good water than bad water.
...and for much of the year there is surface water slowly flowing across our land.
Sub, we have about 2 acres that are "wet", in the sense that "surface water is slowly flowing across our land". Lot of haircap moss in the area, but the soil is firm. We'd like to reclaim that land for use, due to its position in relation to our garden area, which we intend to expand.
Can this area be trenched or drained in some way? Can the water be diverted to a pond (which we'd love), and have you done anything like that at your place, or know anyone who has? This water seems to be coming from a slightly elevated area, not on our land, and I haven't yet found the source.
Not many places left, sadly. Where fracking doesn't kill it, the coal mining does. Where coal mining doesn't, dirty industrial grade agriculture does. So on and so on.
True LL, a local river going through a town might seem clean but the residual effects of industrial waste may prevent the water from receiving a high quality status for decades after a plant was closed. This summer Toledo, Sandusky, and Norwalk had water issues from algae blooms.
It is much more difficult to find high quality water sources than one might think.
Where in the Midwest or East do you think is the cleanest water within a reasonable distance to civilization?
1st, you need to define "clean".
Next, do you know your body(inside/outside) is crawling with bugs/micros/virus/molds/chemicals/sweats/dirt....
If you define "clean" as I think is, you better clean self up first if possible...
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