10,000 gallon water tank delivered

[saltman]

LBrown San Diego County experienced devestating fires in 2003 and over 2,000 homes were burned. People are still re building their homes to this day from all the damage. Since then the County implemented some stringent fire regulations for the rural areas. Even without such regulations I would have bought a large water storage tank both for irrigation and fire protection.

The country may be barren to you but I love the high desert and the climate. A little water here goes a long way with the growing season so long almost anything will grow. I have had a lot of success with fruit tress, grapes and pines and even a few palm trees.

My water tank is hardly in my back yard. I own 175 acres and the tank sits over 1/4 mile from where my house will be. I'll simply plant some pines and poplar trees around it and in three years you will not even see it.

Ralph VA The tank has a closed top, because it was designed for both domestic water and fire protection there really isnt anywhere for bugs to get in unless they make it though the vents. I plan on flushing it several times and then having it tested prior to drinking any of it. I am still considering running a line directly from the well to the house as well for drinking water. I'll check into the varieties of pipe and see whats best for drinking water. Thanks for the advice.

3RRL My property is right off the 8 freeway which runs from San Diego to Arizona. South East of the Wild Animal Park. Just 6 miles or so north of the Mexican border. It sits at 3200 feet 65 miles from the Ocean and 12 miles from the desert floor. Look at National and Local Weather Forecast, Radar, Map and Report and put in the zip of 91934. I think the climate is almost perfect.

Here is a photo of my view to the south looking into Mexico.

 

[MarkV]

Saltman thanks for posting your project. It is interesting to see how different locations deal with their unique environments. I had no idea that some areas required holding tanks for fire protection although it makes perfect sense.

Do you have to run domestic water through some type of purification system at the house? I just don’t understand how that much water in the tank would recycle often enough to not get funky for domestic use.

I’ll bet that was not a cheap well to drill if you had to go 700’. What kind of flow do you get from wells in the desert?

MarkV

 

[saltman]

This is my first experience so I am not sure what to expect with the water purification (if I will need one or not) The well company said I wouldn't as long as I used a few hundred gallons a day. Eventually I would like to build a pond and if I don't use that much water I can just dump 300 gallons a day into it..

The wells in this area vary. Mine puts out 18gpm which is good, one neighbors well is 1,000 feet and he only gets 5 gpm and anothers is 250ft and he gets over 100gpm.

Another interesting thing, the water from my well comes out of the ground at 68 degrees. This surprised me that coming from 700 ft it would be so warm. Being at 3,200 feet we have a lot of cool weather. Their are hot springs in the area so maybe some of the water table is being filled by hot springs. 68 feels cold in the summer but warm in the winter. The water is very clear and has no taste. It tastes like arrow head bottled water to me.

 

[dfkrug]

I'd be inclined to use a 1 1/2" black poly pipe for your line to the tank instead of PVC. Poly is MUCH tougher. If you still go with PVC, I'd buy enough sand to cover over it before putting dirt back into the trench. For sure, use the heavy wall PVC for both sizes. Heavy wall poly is what is used on our well pump discharges to our houses all over Virginia. I laid about 1200' of it just along the ground and through the woods to get rain water from my 2 330 gallon tanks up here to my garden and orchard below. I've even hung it with tractor implements and not broken it.

What do they specify about keeping the water safe in the tank? You gotta really seal it off against insects. Think this may be one of the big things with cistern systems. Water down in the well stays safe because of movement in and out, and it stays at about 50-55 F. In an above-ground tank, the water could get pretty warm.

Ralph

Black PE pipe is commonly used for water lines here in the Santa Cruz
Mtns, but I have not found any certified for potable water use. If the
installation is subject to inspection, then you may need to have the
"NSF-pw" stamp, as you will find on PVC pipe. It also must be buried, as
any installer of PVC should do anyway.

As for fire protection.... Our county just had a 50,000 acre fire last
week (the Lick fire), and it can be scary. There were 1500 firefighters
camped out there, and fortunately no loss of life. Rural residents here
need to have plenty of fire protection, incl water storage, a defensive
brush perimeter, and a fire-resistant house. Of course, some choose
not to.....

 

[3RRL]

Same here as like Dave said. The rural residents need to have adequate protection and be prepared because the fire department will only go to those homes they know they can save. Your road, turnouts, surrounding clean area, water tank, fire hydrant etc. all need to be in perfect shape or they won't bother.

 

[Scrounger]

Better hope no one shots a .50 cal in the area. That will be the 2000 and 4000 yard target.

 

[saltman]

I went with the recommendation of the Well Drilling Company and used PVC Schedule 40. I have 1.5 inch going up, and 2 inch coming down to my house and cabin/ bathroom building. Then I have a 4 inch line that will run to my fire hydrant.

I took off Wed. and starting laying pipe. I got about 500 feet of 1.5 inch layed and about the same of the 2 inch. I am working from the well up. Sunday I am planning on putting in risors around the house site, cabin and bathroom building, adding some valves and back filling the first 500 feet. This will allow me to drive in rather than walk and then I can use my tractor to haul the heavy 4 inch galvanized line through the wash and get the rest of the materials up the hill.

I had planned on putting some 10 gauge wire in conduit and running it in the trench for a float system that would start my generator which would kick on the well when the tank went low. ( the county will require this I am sure) I did some research and learned that I can do the same thing with a remote wireless device like a key fab!

 

[saltman]

I back filled the bottom section so I can now get into my cabin. The feeder line is almost in, I have about 100ft left and I can start filling the tank, by the time the tanks full I should have the 2 inch line done.

The photo here shows risers from those I will run lateral lines to hose bibs.

 

[hankus]

Is your property in danger from the current fires in your area?

 

[LBrown59]

Is your property in danger from the current fires in your area?

B U M P