Quote Originally Posted by emily_the_spoiled
I don't know about the Yukon, but I grew up in northern Saskatchewan (which is definitely "up there") and we had well water. Generally you have to dig the pipes into the group so they are laid in the perma-frost and don't have issues with freezing in the winter. (yes when i moved down to DC most people had never heard the word "perma-frost" before )

If the water tank is not kept in the basement of the house, it will be insulated so that it doesn't freeze (kind of like a giant hot water heater blanket).

What part of Saskatchewan? I grew up in the middle of the province!

Our permafrost in some spots starts well within husky digging! We will have to dig the pipes about 7 feet into the ground--all the usual prairie stuff, plus a bit more. We have to box the pipe in and then heat that box. Pipes will also have heat trace tape on them. The spot where the pipes come into the house has to have a insulated box around it as well.

We don't have a basement--they are rare up here. I'd love to have one again! We have a four foot crawl space under the house. The current water holding tank is buried in there so it's all ready set for winter weather.