If you live in the country or suburbs, you've had, are having, or will have water problems.

What's yours? Not enough water? Too much? Tastes terrible? The pump quits? The water's contaminated?

No matter what it is, author Stu Campbell addresses it in this book, and offers down-to-earth solutions in language understandable to all of us who aren't plumbers.

Campbell had coped with water problems in both the East and the West, from the many-state shortages of the West to a cantankerous pump in Vermont. And he's probed the minds of experts -- dowsers, well diggers, plumbers, electricians, and those who know about the flow of water deep underground.

In a friendly, knowledgeable manner, Campbell discusses your difficulties. He provides concrete and money-saving answers to questions that range from locating water to digging a pond to hooking up the plumbing in your home. You'll know when to try something yourself, when to call a plumber or other expert.

You'll learn

-- How to find water.

-- How to move it.

-- How to purify it.

-- And how to store and distribute it in your home.

Bob Vogel's illustrations take much of the mystery out of things as the underground flow of water and how pumps and other water-linked equipment operate.

Making, maintaining and mending our own homes is part of what makes us human. It is a skill that was alive and well until just two or three generations ago. Harrison Gardner is a man on a mission to help us rediscover the lost art of building our own while leaving a more harmonious mark on the environment. Build Your Own explores the principles of construction and outlines a multitude of practices and methods that enable you to build a home with the materials available to you. Practical techniques, such as plastering, moving earth, basic demolition, installing insulation, building internal walls and attaching cladding, are demystified and made easy. Whether you plan to build your own structure, are curious about the idea or are dealing with construction workers, Build Your Own is an essential tool that shows that anyone can learn to build - and perhaps everyone should. 'A revolutionary book ... within it is the knowledge to empower you to shape and craft your own living space.' Manchan Magan

In just three years, Instructables.com has become one of the hottest destinations for makers and DIY enthusiasts of all stripes. Known as 'the world's biggest show & tell', makers from around the globe post how-to articles on a staggering variety of topics - from collecting rainwater for lawn care to hacking toy robots to extracting squid ink. Now, with more than 10,000 articles, the Instructables staff and editors of "Make Magazine" - with help from the Instructables community - have put together a collection of solid, time- and user-tested technology projects from the site."The Best of Instructables Volume 1" includes plenty of clear, full-color photographs, complete step-by-step instructions, as well as tips, tricks, and new build techniques you won't find anywhere else - even material never seen before on Instructables. Some of the more popular how-to articles include: the LED Throwie - magnetized electronic graffiti that's become a phenomenon; how to make a cheap CNC milling machine out of plumbing parts, printer motors, and a rotary tool; innovative gaming hacks, such as how to add LED lights and custom-molded buttons to a video game controller; and, new twists on personal items, such as the Paper Wallet and Electric Umbrella.While the book focuses on technology, it also includes articles on creating cool furniture from cheap components, and ways of making your own toys. Anything but a reference book, "The Best of Instructables Volume I" embodies the inspirational fun, creativity, and sense of community that has attracted more than 200,000 registered members in just 3 years. Many of the articles include sidebars that show how other builders have realized or improved upon the same project. Making things is cool again: everyone wants to be a creator, not just a consumer. This is the spirit of the 'new handy heyday', fostered by Instructables.com, "Make Magazine", and others, and celebrated by this incredible book - "The Best of Instructables Volume 1".