water tank, above ground, or below?

Discussion in 'Off Grid Living' started by rsbhunter, Mar 20, 2012.


  1. rsbhunter

    rsbhunter Monkey+

    I am starting to look at water storage tanks, as a well is not a possibility where my land is, and i'm looking at 1,000 gallon tanks. This is the amount that i can get delivered,same amouny of money, no less.I have spoken with a member that has an 1,500 gal tank(above ground) that has been in -22 degree weather for days, and never froze , EXCEPT the water at the top of the tank. Of course, the above ground tanks are less than half of the price of underground tanks, but being at 10,000 feet in southern Colorado, i still have nightmares about waking up and finding out that my tank is frozen solid....I know that i have to keep the outlet insulated, the piping will be underground and insulated.....As well as the underground tank costing twice as much, i will have to have a hole dug down 5' to get the tank deep enough to use...which will be a backhoe job= $$$$.Just curious if any body else lives in a real cold winter area and has either style water tank? Thanks for any replies...rsbhunter
     
  2. STANGF150

    STANGF150 Knowledge Seeker

    real cold winter area? *points towards BTPost* theres yer expert on COLD!!!
     
  3. Suerto

    Suerto Monkey+

    I know where your coming from, and have researched it thoroughly for those areas myself...

    My tanks will be underground..
    And I could probably assist you with the water delivery BS, if you would like..

    PM me if you want..
     
  4. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    My water comes off the Steel Roof, then into 250 USG Insulated Storage Totes. I found this winter, that if I put a 1.5Kw Stock Tank Heater in the Tote, it keeps the water in liquid form, even down to -15F. These Stock Tank Heaters are Thermal Switched, so that once the Fluid Temp gets above 34F, they cycle Off, thus saving power, by just heating enough to keep the tank from freezing. I bought mine from Tractor Supply, but any good Farm Supply House will carry them. There are pictures of my Water System, in the OffGrid Domestic Water Thread that Colt Carbine started.... .... YMMV...
     
  5. Suerto

    Suerto Monkey+

    Illegal in Colorado..;
    Recovering water from your roof like that..

    Just sayin
     
  6. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Yep, Colorado is a Beef State, and ALL the Water Rights are Locked up by the Beef Lobby... To Bad, So Sad... Not the case in Alaska, where I live....
     
  7. Suerto

    Suerto Monkey+

    Doesn't do RSB any good with that attitude! ;)

    Not like he can drag up and move to Alaska... Unless your offering a job and free land.. And if that's the case, don't tell my wife, cuz she'd take you up on that offer, her maiden name is Juneau.. Yeah, relations..

    Anywho, during the summer you gotta worry about forest fires, above ground tanks don't fare well in those either..

    Just sayin
     
  8. Silversnake

    Silversnake Silverback

    BTPost likes this.
  9. Suerto

    Suerto Monkey+

    Yeah, so basically, if you have a domestic well (35 acres or more, or grandfathered well which was drilled before 1978) you can collect rainwater for "limited use", how limited, is left unstated... But it must be permitted (you have to submit a permit of intent to the state, and have it inspected thereafter) and purified, before using for potable purposes..

    Whereas prior, because there was no law which specifically addressed the issue, the interpretation was (as per state supreme court rulings) was first rights rule..

    Not much change, IMO..
    Other than allowing those with domestic wells to catch rainwater, with a permit, ofcourse..

    Atleast, that is from my interpretation, when I read this article..

    I also read a court case where someone attempted this (2010 or 2011) without a permit, without a domestic well, in thier backyard, and were ratted out by neighbors, and then were persecuted into bankruptcy..

    From everything I read about water in Colorado (and I been researching since 2006), you either purchase 35ac or more, or get a well that was drilled prior to 1978.. In order to retain any sane water rights with your property.

    And if you have your own water well drilling equipment, on 35 (one household use, and one domestic; unless you subdivide and then you could theoretically drill 35 household use wells... This makes no friggin sense as 35 households would use waaaay more water) or more acres, you can drill your own well (whereas it could cost you up to $16k to pay a state certified water well drilling contractor PER WELL), but you must own your own equipment; cannot be leased or borrowed.

    Unless I been mis-interpreting the laws, this is my understanding?
     
  10. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    One very good reason to NOT spend Money, or effort, on Land in Colorado.... Doing Due Diligence before you plunk down your cash, can save you lots of headaches, later, down the road. Utah Water Right Law are just about as Bad, a deal. .... YMMV...
     
  11. Suerto

    Suerto Monkey+

    As much as some would love to, not everybody can afford to live it up in the great state of Alaska.. ;)

    Coming from Louisiana, where there are no water rights laws, and reading these laws was really an eye opener for me, I realized how much we took water for granted.. And that someday, possibly in my lifetime, it would become as important as oil.

    From what I understand, most of the western US is regulated this way, concerning water..
     
  12. BTPost

    BTPost Stumpy Old Fart,Deadman Walking, Snow Monkey Moderator

    Certainly, most of the Cattle Country is, and has been since the years of the Cattle Barons.... Water Rights are a State Issue, and governed by State Statutes. Having dealt with these issues for many years, I have come to understand, how many of these Restrictions, and Allocations, came into being. In Colorado, and Utah, it is like dealing with the Mafia, when it comes to water. They have a Offer, that you can't Refuse, backed by local Statutes, and a Powerful, and Moneyed, Lobby. Trying to break into their Game, is a Futile Effort. You either PAY, their Game, or you have NO WATER. Other States are less restrictive, especially where water is more abundant, like on the West Coast. These are ALL issues, that anyone must get a handle on, while doing their Due Diligence research, when contemplating a major move, to a new place. .... YMMV...
     
  13. jungatheart

    jungatheart Beginner's Mind

    I owned land in Colorado 10 years ago that had springs on it. I just went to the water board or whatever it's called and filed on them. Unless they've already been filed on, which is unlikely, it's yours to use as you please. Pretty sure the same holds true with rainwater.
     
  14. Suerto

    Suerto Monkey+

    Appearantly you failed to read previous posts, or the link to the statute regarding rainwater?

    Try CL RSB, I've seen water tanks on there (above and below) for decent prices.. not often, but I have seen them over the years.. You gotta pick up and move though..
     
  15. TnAndy

    TnAndy Senior Member Founding Member

    Tennessee started recording the GPS location of all water wells drilled in the state a few years back, and putting a state "Do Not Remove" tag on the casing at the top of the well. I assume that information is going to be put to SOME use at some point down the road.

    Although I have a spring, I had a well drilled few years back as a backup, and this was the first time I'd encountered the GPS thing ( had other wells drilled in the past on other properties without this ). Turns out, the location the guy marked and GPS'ed is down at my barn, but later, when the drill crew came, I had decided to move the drill location up near the house, so I simply plucked the wood stake the well company guy planted, and moved it about 300yds up near the house...where they drilled the well, and left about 2' of casing sticking up and slapped the state sticker on that.

    After they left, I took my backhoe, dug a pit around the casing down about 4', laid cinderblock around it, cut off about 4' of the casing, including the sticker, which, I did NOT remove as per instructions....and move the whole well top underground. Put 2x treated planking over the top and about 6" dirt, and planted grass over it. ( after running all my piping and such and pump )

    They'll have a fairly hard time finding that particular well. I figure if it ever gets down to it, I'll take that 4' section of casing with the sticker on it, and sink it in the septic tank of my shop, which is close to where the GPS location was.

    "Nah, Mr State Man....we never use that well....water is terrible...you want a sip ?"

    :D
     
  16. larryinalabama

    larryinalabama Monkey++

    At some point in time their will be wars over water.

    With that being said laws sometimes are stupid and unenforcable.
    Im sure getting punished for saving the planet by collecting rain water would make the NETWORKS NIGHTLY NEWS.

    With that being said ........
    City water is still the best option for inside the house use.
    Pond would be the best for irregation as well can be stocked with fish.
    Above ground water system could concevably be built with scrap lumber and some sort of pool liner. The advantage you would have water preshure with no power.
    Under ground tanks are too expensive and complactated to be practicle.
    Well are fine especially if you hit one with "good" water.
     
    VisuTrac likes this.
  17. Suerto

    Suerto Monkey+

    TN, I would think that you have already divulged too much information already..
    They're Watching: Homeland Security Tracking Visitors Across Alternative News and Prepper Web Sites
    just sayin..

    colorado has most of their wells GPS'd and on an online database/map..
    The wells in my area that I am looking at purchasing, run between 75-250', flow varies from 3gpm-20gpm.. Either a pressurized bladder, or cistern/holding tank would behoove one, to ensure plenty of water flowing at all times.

    I am buying my own water well drilling rig..
    Water Well Drilling Equipment Portable and Hydraulic Drill Rigs Geothermal Drill
    YMMV
     
    VisuTrac and larryinalabama like this.
  18. larryinalabama

    larryinalabama Monkey++

    Theres good money in drilling wells if you can find the work.

    The gooberment is about to implode your extra can of pork and beans doesnt mean shi* to them. Your 500,000 IRA is in grave danger.
     
  19. Suerto

    Suerto Monkey+

    Review Post #9 - can't drill a well for others, unless you are a state certified/liscensed water well driller.. When I get the rig, I may entertain looking into the licenses, but from what little I seen so far, looks like a big PIA..

    My IRA got cashed back in 08', paid off all credit cards and haven't had one since, all my assets are hard, tangible, and appreciative..:0
     
    Sapper John and BTPost like this.
  20. rsbhunter

    rsbhunter Monkey+

    rain water/runoff

    The tank will hold my drinking/cooking water....any rain water that is collected, will be used as secondary water. and if the "RAIN" police want to put me in jail, then i won't have to cook, clean, or even shut the door behind myself...LOL...... it's not like i'm looking to collect thousands of gallons of water.....might have a 250-500 gal tank......if they want to push it, then it gets unhooked......([fnny]) ...rsbhunter
     
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