Are you building or about to build a tiny house? It is a popular movement right now among people who want to live more simply, less expensively, and more in tune with the environment. Tiny houses are also versatile. You can build one almost anywhere that has a little bit of land you can use...even in a friend or family member's back yard. If you like to travel, you can make your tiny house mobile. It is also exceedingly easy to live off the grid if you want to do so. A lot of tiny house owners choose this. You can also connect to the grid, but have much lower utility bills than in a regular house.

When it comes to the grid, one of the questions you have to ask yourself is whether or not you want to connect to the city or county water supply or use your own. According to News.Yahoo.com, utilities like power and water are big issues for tiny houses. Here are three options you can use to get water into your tiny house, along with the advantages and disadvantages of each.

1. Use the City or County Water Supply

This is an option for you if your tiny house is built in a fixed location and won't be moved. If city or county water is available in your area, you can have traditional plumbing in your tiny house. Just hire a plumbing contractor to come out and do the job for you. The plumbing contractor will plumb your house and get you connected to the municipal water source.

The primary advantage of this is having hot and cold water readily available whenever you want it. Another advantage is having access to the municipal sewage system, so you will be able to flush your toilet and run a washing machine like anyone else. The disadvantage is having a water bill to pay every month, however small it may be.

2. Dig a Well

Another good option for a tiny house that will be in a fixed location, a well, is an appropriate choice if there is no municipal water source nearby, or if you do not trust the quality of the water. Once again, a plumbing contractor can connect all the pipes from the well to the house for you once the well is dug. You will usually use a well digging company to dig the well.

The advantages are not having a water bill and having ready access to water whenever you need it. The disadvantages are having to come up with a power source to use the well, which usually means connecting to the grid or using solar power, and not having access to municipal sewage. To dispose of waste water, you will either need to use a composting toilet and wash your clothes by hand, or have a septic tank installed on your property.

3. Install a Water Tank Under Your House

This is really the only option for a mobile tiny house, though it can also be used on a tiny house in a fixed location if it is built up off the ground. With a water tank, you will have a refillable tank of water under your house with plumbing to all of the things you want to use water. A plumbing contractor can do this for you if you don't know how to install the pipes.

The advantages are being able to live in a mobile house and not having a water bill. The disadvantage is having to empty the tank and refill it on a regular basis. This requires finding a sanitary place to dispose of the waste water and a clean source of water to refill your tank.

Conclusion

If you're building a tiny house, you have to consider your water options. You will need it to bathe, use the toilet, wash your clothes, brush your hands and teeth, and wash the dishes. To decide which water source is best for you, consider your goals for your tiny house, then call a plumbing contractor to advise you on the best way to go with your tiny house plumbing.