For rural homeowners who live beyond the reach of municipal water and sewage lines, this guide aims to save a lot of time, money, and frustration. Thoroughly revised and updated to conform to current codes and requirements, this expanded edition includes new material on well and septic installation, water storage and distribution, water treatment, ecological considerations, and septic systems for problem building sites. The authors cover everything the new or experienced homeowner needs to know from obtaining necessary permits, locating water and perc test sites, and choosing the right drilling technique to selecting and preparing a septic system, connecting it to a dwelling, and maintaining it for decades of problem-free performance. While most of the procedures and methods discussed here are applicable nationwide, the authors also examine water laws unique to the arid western United States.