Using Lake Water year round

correira99 · 10-09-2015, 11:08 AM

Hello everyone,

I was hoping to get everyone's opinions on an issue I'm having.

Background: I bought a house on Lake Waukewan 5 years ago after 40+ years of renting. The previous owner had lived there year round until the last few years of his life. I bought the house and did exterior and interior work. Now I want to fix the plumbing so I can use it year round.

Problem: The water line runs underground from my house and pops up at the shoreline and then runs along the lake floor, out quite aways. I want to use the lake water year round in the winter. The problem a few plumbers have told me is that they cant dig the line into the lake floor, therefore it will freeze. Instead I should dig a well. I don't have much land and don't like the cost of that. My neighbors use the lake water year round but their line runs underneath the lake floor and pops up at a deeper depth, preventing any icing.

Question: Does anyone have any personal experience or advice on how to remedy this situation? Am I not allowed to dig the line into the lake floor? Will heat tape of some sort work? What option do I have?

I'd rather not dig a well, becuase aside from cost, I know my neighbors in the area have had water quality issues and Lake Waukewan is as clean and I know what I'd be getting.

Thanks to all.

10-09-2015, 11:08 AM	#1
correira99 Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Meredith for fun, NYC for work Posts: 7 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Using Lake Water year round Hello everyone, I was hoping to get everyone's opinions on an issue I'm having. Background: I bought a house on Lake Waukewan 5 years ago after 40+ years of renting. The previous owner had lived there year round until the last few years of his life. I bought the house and did exterior and interior work. Now I want to fix the plumbing so I can use it year round. Problem: The water line runs underground from my house and pops up at the shoreline and then runs along the lake floor, out quite aways. I want to use the lake water year round in the winter. The problem a few plumbers have told me is that they cant dig the line into the lake floor, therefore it will freeze. Instead I should dig a well. I don't have much land and don't like the cost of that. My neighbors use the lake water year round but their line runs underneath the lake floor and pops up at a deeper depth, preventing any icing. Question: Does anyone have any personal experience or advice on how to remedy this situation? Am I not allowed to dig the line into the lake floor? Will heat tape of some sort work? What option do I have? I'd rather not dig a well, becuase aside from cost, I know my neighbors in the area have had water quality issues and Lake Waukewan is as clean and I know what I'd be getting. Thanks to all.