A story about water , which is essential for living in the mountains.

I started out living casually in the mountains 15 years ago, and this is my fifth place.

In order to find the ideal piece of land, we traveled as far north as Karuizawa and as far south as Kagoshima and looked at numerous properties suitable for mountain living.

I would like to introduce the characteristics of water that I have seen during my experiences.

There may be exceptions, so please use this information as a reference only.

I think the main water sources when living in the mountains are springs , rivers , and ponds .

In the mountains Spring water It's safe to say that this is the best.

There is no need to purify the water for daily use, and it is a perfectly luxurious environment for living in the mountains.

There are many people looking for it, but it is not easy to get hold of.

Not only is there competition, but prices are high, and whether the land is actually good is another matter.

and Spring water This is because it comes from within the land,

Generally, the amount of water from a spring is not large, so the amount of water varies depending on the amount of rainfall and snowfall. Depending on the area, there may be times during the year when the water dries up.

Ponds in mountainous areas are often used primarily for daily life and agriculture, and based on the experiences of our ancestors, they were built as reservoirs to avoid water shortages.

I'm not sure about natural ponds, but I think reservoirs are a low risk in terms of water volume.

There are many fun elements to enjoy, such as fish and shrimp, but you need to be careful to avoid accidents.

river is a small river with a large headwater that is often found in mountainous areas. I'll tell you about (Ogawa).

river Many of these rivers have a long history of use by our ancestors for daily life and agriculture, so the water volume tends to be stable. However, they can be affected by heavy rains and typhoons, so please check the rivers carefully. If you are going to live near a building, we recommend that you carefully observe the terrain and vegetation, and if possible, wait a year before building.

Alternatively, it would be wise to keep a sufficient distance from the building in advance.

I myself had the anxious experience of being hit by a typhoon when I moved to the upper reaches of the river.

river is considered a shared property, so it is rarely included within the land.

If it is included in the land, it is called a "swamp". is.

Sawa This is the flow path of water that springs up on or above the land, and rainwater.

In some places, there is a large amount of water flowing, so it is safe to say that the water is almost as clean as spring water.

However, it is a valley with a short history and has never been used in the past. Since the water volume is small or the source is relatively new, there may be times during the year when the water dries up.

Pond and river The same applies, but agricultural water and domestic wastewater may also enter.

In such cases, if you are reluctant to use it as is, you may want to consider a simple water purification system.

I have previously studied rivers that receive water for agricultural use. It has been used as drinking water in the past.

At that time, a coagulant, which is also used in sewage treatment, was used to secure water for daily use.

It is a safe powder made from natto ingredients, and we were able to keep the cost lower than the average water bill.

You can make a simple "filtration device," or there are commercially available products available.

If you establish your own method of purifying water, you will be able to use any type of water , which will vastly expand your options for land when living in the mountains, and will also give you the strength to deal with various emergencies.

The water source you choose will depend on your own preferences and budget.

Advances in technology now make it possible to utilize any type of water .

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And the last option I would recommend is rainwater .

Rainwater is a water source that anyone can use, regardless of location.

In Europe and the United States, some people have adopted an independent lifestyle when it comes to electricity, gas, and water.

In this type of lifestyle, which is practiced in Europe and the United States, harvesting rainwater is one of the most viable options, and efforts to live in places without water sources have already begun.

From now on, living in the mountains will not be limited to expensive properties with water ; allocating a budget to building rainwater collection systems and reservoirs may also be an option.

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No matter what water source you live off of, I think the key to being self-reliant is always to be prepared.

Water tanks and reservoirs should be built so that there is always a water shortage.

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Be sure to use a water filter for drinking water.

There are various types of water purifiers available, and they can be easily maintained at the same cost as a regular water bill.

I think everyone has their own idea of the ideal place.

But often, that land isn't the best for you.

It took me more than 10 years to find the perfect piece of land.

However, I realized it wasn't the place I wanted to live, so I left after six months.

At that time, the land we bought as a quick fix turned out to be our ideal land.

You can't know the good and bad points of a place unless you live there.

If you just wait for the perfect piece of land, your passion will gradually fade.

If you find living in the mountains appealing, I recommend that you try living there first.