Utility water is too expensive to put in at the farm

[wvpolekat]

Get the meter put in at the road, use that to fill a tank on a trailer to take up to the barn as you need it. Then you can run the line up to the barn as funds permit. Just keep putting your fill spigot closer and closer to the barn as you lay your water line.

 

[alchemysa]

If you get enough rain I would think a rain-water collection system would be a lot less hassle over time.

How about a french-drain around the base of your barn/hut with a corrugated pipe that feeds a tank. It seems you have enough elevation change that the tank would not need to be underground if you put it far enough away from the barn.

You could possibly use a 1000 gallon septic tank if you want to bury it. And maybe use a smaller tank in line to allow debris to settle.

An excellent idea. A narrow, shallow trench each side, lined with vinyl and filled with gravel. Build a small concrete drain at the low end to collect the water and pipe it to an underground tank or an above ground tank on a low part of the property. Its a relatively cheap easy solution and should be very efficient.

An obvious question is where is the water going now that's running off the roof in winter?

Its amazing how much water a roof will collect. A 5000 gal tank probably wouldn't go wrong unless you are in a desert.

 

[travis potter]

I have a place west of San Antonio 1200 ft to the water with rock all the way $ 50,000 to drill a wel. Iam on public water but it is very expensive and the water co is very hard to deal with ( a long story ). I just finished my barn-shop and am planning on collecting the water off the roof a freind collected the dew of the roof of a 20x30 garage and filled a 55 gal barrel with out rain. You can get a lot of water off the roof. I hope.

 

[buckeyefarmer]

Its amazing how little rain it takes to fill a 55 gal drum, with just a small surface area. I collect off the front side of my shed, just about an 8x16' surface area.

 

[cycle_gator]

Warhammer:

I have similar situation and similar plan. My option is to dig a well for $15 to 20k.

By the way 1000 pounds of water is about 125 gallons.

Due to winter freezing, however, I will be planting my tank underground with about 2 ft of soil over it. I will need to use a different tank, one made for underground storage.

 

[gwjd]

think about the where and tear on your truck hauling that much water every trip what i would do it have the meter put in and use tractor or mule to fill a 1500 gal tank not only would i do that but i would have a fire hydrant put in it will probably help insurance rates, sully that could be on the public side of the meter really just a thought.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Get the tanks mounted and buried or what ever. Then contact your local Volunteer Fire Department if they are in your area. For a reasonable donation they may just have to dump their "old" water into your tank. My first idea of collecting rain still holds water as a way if you can reasonably pull that off. Around here in Seattle we have plenty of that stuff.

 

[The Dougster]

Warhammer, the area around where you live is tough finding affordable groundwater (private wells).. from memory, many of the wells in your area are pretty darned deep and that translates to big bucks to get a well. I'd still check with neighbors and see if any of them have water wells and the quality of the water.
I am big on rainwater harvesting and you have gotten some good advice from TBN members.... a small underground tank fitted with a float switch to push the water into a larger above ground tank might be just the ticket.
While my profile says that I'm in Lampasas County, during the week, I actually live in Liberty Hill, near Seward Junction so I am familiar with your area. Good luck.

 

[TheGoose]

First off, go and talk to your local water well drillers. They will tell you exactly what you need to know. If all you need is a shallow well it's possible they can drill you one for a lot cheaper than the water utility hook-up. I am not familiar with that area at all so it may not be possible to get a cheap well as Dougster suggested. Also, that price the utility co. quoted include trenching etc? Why not just have a tap installed at the main, bare minimum installation. No trenching etc. Then just fill your tanks at the property instead of hauling them all over the county. Or get friendly with a neighbor who has water and maybe sharing some expense. Good luck.

 

[warhammer]

The water company quoted $3500 for a meter assuming the pipe ran along my side of the road and did not require boring. The road is about 2500 feet from the barn. Trenching and laying pipe would be extra and my expense.
The plan is to eventually get at least the meter to be able to haul water with the tractor until a better installation can be done. I just don't have $3500 plus to lay into that at this time. With 2 kids in college I am lucky to have a farm. ;o}
I have a shallow well already and there are another couple shallow wells nearby on neighboring properties. They can be pumped out fairly quickly and take some days to regenerate.

First off, go and talk to your local water well drillers. They will tell you exactly what you need to know. If all you need is a shallow well it's possible they can drill you one for a lot cheaper than the water utility hook-up. I am not familiar with that area at all so it may not be possible to get a cheap well as Dougster suggested. Also, that price the utility co. quoted include trenching etc? Why not just have a tap installed at the main, bare minimum installation. No trenching etc. Then just fill your tanks at the property instead of hauling them all over the county. Or get friendly with a neighbor who has water and maybe sharing some expense. Good luck.