Utility water is too expensive to put in at the farm

[warhammer]

So I am thinking of buying a 1500 gallon water tank at TSC to put by the barn like this one:
Water Storage Tank, 1,500 gal. - 2126917 | Tractor Supply Company
I will also purchase a pickup truck style 250-300 gallon tank to tote water from my house which is about 40 minutes away. Since I go to the farm 2-4 times a week keeping the large tank filled should be doable.
What needs to be done to support the 1500 gallon tank on the ground?
Why are the black tanks priced higher than the white ones?

 

[Gale Hawkins]

What will you use this much water to do?

Some say black is more popular I could not read anything about technical differences. UV may not be as much of a problem in black but I see farmers using white so they can see the water level.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

So you probably don't get enough rainfall to collect water from the roofs of your buildings? And dig a well is out I bet.

 

[warhammer]

The water is for the pressure washer to keep tractor/implements/mule clean, for the sprayer(55 Gallon) for weed control, for a few head of cattle(after pasture establishment) when the stock tanks are dry like they were for several months this year in the drought.
Right now I am making do with a 35 gallon tank to bring water from the house and its not enough.

What will you use this much water to do?

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I remember the hauling water for livestock and it was a pain.

It would be nice to have that much water stocked piled for sure. Since it is for animals you sure do not want to buy a used one unless you could be sure it had only been used for fresh water for sure.

Is catching rain water an option to fill the tank?

 

[warhammer]

No easy choices on this.
Not sure how to collect rainfall from my barn as its a quonset and doesn't have gutters. This barn has stood for 60 years in a very windy area and is in good shape other than needing a coat of paint. I am hesitant to make a bunch of penetrations on it to hang gutters and make it catch more wind.
There is a map of the county that shows all registered wells and there are none for miles around. Not sure if that means the water table is too deep or hard to find or what. There is an existing very shallow well at around 20-30 feet that can be pumped dry fairly quickly and takes a while to recharge.
I can get a water meter put in at the road for $3500 plus assuming its on the right side of the road and thus no boring charge but then have to deal with a 2000 foot run to the barn that goes uphill about 40 feet which means I would likely have to install some sort of pump with a very long electrical run from the barn......
The tanks seem pretty workable to me at a cost for both of around $850.

So you probably don't get enough rainfall to collect water from the roofs of your buildings? And dig a well is out I bet.

 

[warhammer]

I have owned the place since Dec 2007. This last summer was the first time the tanks went dry. Looking back at all the aerial pics I could find over past decades the tanks have gotten low before but I could not find any dry photos.
I expect most of the time to not have to tote water for the cows but it would be good to have it there.
I am also fencing and planting Bermuda on the yard around the barn which is the better part of an acre figuring I could use it for a short term pen if need be. The tank and a trough would be the only water available for that area if it was put to that use.

I remember the hauling water for livestock and it was a pain.

It would be nice to have that much water stocked piled for sure. Since it is for animals you sure do not want to buy a used one unless you could be sure it had only been used for fresh water for sure.

Is catching rain water an option to fill the tank?

 

[mjncad]

I think the black tanks are designed to minimize algae growth, which is probably how they justify the extra cost.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

Sounds like the tanks is a workable solution at this time. I would not mess with the roof of the barn for sure.

We have had 4 inchs of rain in the last 12 hours and still getting it but I am guessing you get less.

 

[Skyco]

I think the black tanks are designed to minimize algae growth, which is probably how they justify the extra cost.

Yup. Been looking at a tank for my remote property also...right now I have 4 55 gallon drums there, two I keep filled with well (drinking) water from home and 2 with spring water off the property. I haul a 55 gallon tank full in the pickup every time I go, which is about a 300 mile round trip.
TSC around here does not stock the black tanks, but they do in some parts of the country I'm told. I actually found I can buy a tank online and have it shipped in for much less than TSC. Problem is how do I get a 8ft diameter 250lb tank off the freight truck without damaging it....