The focus of this book is necessarily on shallow wells, as deep wells require professional drilling, never the less the author covers well pumps, casing, storage devices and filtration systems with enough technical detail to meet most needs. Deep wells and methods are covered, just not in detail.

If you need to know how to identify and correct contamination you'll find it here. Need to compute water needs? Pump and storage specifications? Those are also here. In fact, you'll be pleased with the technical details and comparisons in an easy to read style.

I must have missed the new age stuff or at least forgot it as I read the whole book.

If you want to find water in a rural area, and develop it yourself, this is the book. I would not recommend "Cottage Water Systems" if you want detail on well systems.

31 of 32 found the following review helpful:


Comprehensive, practical, and fun to read.  Sep 10, 1998
Covers everything from finding water to getting it to treating it and controlling it. Describes ponds, catchments (roofs and paved areas), wells of several different kinds, springs, and running water.

12 of 14 found the following review helpful:


Excellent read  Oct 15, 1998
I bought this book based on the review from the NC reader. This is a great book on the topic. Easy read, good examples, great information. If you are looking to get into well work or building a lateral system, get this book.

37 of 50 found the following review helpful:


Lacks Basic Data  Aug 01, 2002
This book doesn't contain the data needed for developing even a simple design for a home water system. For example, there is no data to calculate friction loss from water moving through pipes. The book notes that friction loss is easy to calculate using a table. The book includes a table that lists friction loss for valves and fittings in equivalent length of pipe. But, I can't find a table on friction loss per length of pipe. A third of the book and most of the bibliography is devoted to the author's opinions on water politics, he is no Marc Reisner.

38 of 56 found the following review helpful:


A generalist approach to water.  May 11, 1999
A new age approach to the subject of water. Campbell's need to share his philosophy kept me from wanting to read the entire book. What it has to do with water is anybody's guess. But if you're into new age, and don't mind reading spiritualistic trash, this might be your book. Technically correct, the book attempts to be everybody's introduction to anything you ever wanted to know about water. That broad stroke is it's best and at the same time, worst feature.

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