2. different, so you will need to create a bottom under the tank. You can circu-
solution for your site, weather and terrain. late water from the culvert into the tank
Below are some ideas: with a separate low-wattage solar-pow-
1. Pump water into a large enclosed storage ered pump. This system requires a battery
tank at a higher elevation. You should bank to allow for night use. You will need
insulate the tank in some way, bury it to put the batteries in a non-freezing area,
or mound dirt around it. If the tank perhaps on a platform above the water
is exposed, paint it black to absorb the level in the culvert.
sun’s heat during the day. From the stor- 6. You can use a special in-tank propane
age tank, run a buried line to supply heater to keep water from freezing.
the watering tanks by gravity and con-
trol this flow with a float valve. You may 7. Innovative producers have experimented
want to use a thermostatically controlled with building solar-heated air or water
float valve that opens when temperatures collectors on their tanks. A system such
drop below a certain point. You can posi- as this uses the sun’s heat to keep the tank
tion some of these valves to direct water from freezing.
around the outside of the watering tank 8. Another way to use propane is to run a
Related ATTRA to keep water open for stock. You can also
publications quarter-inch copper tube from the regu-
pump water into the storage tank during lator into the water tank and crack the
Paddock Design, the day so that it will continuously trickle propane valve open slightly, just enough
Fencing, and into the watering tank at night and on to allow small bubbles to flow from the
Water Systems for cloudy days. The watering tank will need tube. The bubbling action will keep water
Controlled Grazing an overflow drain-field.
open at the spot it emerges from the tube.
Solar-Powered 2. If a storage tank is not an option, you can A propane tank will last over a month if
Livestock
use a solar pumping system to fill the water- used in this manner. The livestock waterer
Watering Systems
ing tank directly during the day. Make can be placed in a location where the pro-
Renewable Energy a small hole that allows the tank to drain pane can be easily dispersed by the wind
Opportunities slowly at night to keep water moving. to prevent an accumulation of propane
on the Farm
3. You can use large heavy equipment tires gas. A propane bubbler can be constructed
as watering tanks. These help keep water for about $90 from materials acquired at
open since they are black and absorb a hardware store. If you have an old pro-
heat from the sun. They are also flexible pane bottle, you can have it filled and save
enough not to crack if freezing occurs. about half of the cost.
These tires are often free and are very Materials list
tough and can take abuse from animals.
Item: Approximate cost:
4. Much of the heat loss from a watering 20-pound $60 to $90, new
tank occurs at the surface of the water. propone tank
You can reduce this heat loss consider-
ably by placing an insulated cover over a Regulator $10 to $15
large part of the surface area of the tank. Adaptor fittings (2) $5
Provide openings around the edge where Copper tubing, length cut as
animals can drink. You can also insulate ¼ inch necessary
the sides of watering tanks with insula-
tion material, sawdust or wood chips. Par- Adaptor fittings
tially burying a watering tank, or berm- These fittings go on each side of the regu-
ing it with earth, takes advantage of the lator and connect the bottle valve to the
ground’s warmth to prevent freezing.
regulator and the regulator to the tubing.
5. Another way to make use of underground The fitting from the bottle valve to the
warmth is to install a culvert with a sealed adaptor will have a large, reverse-thread
Page 2 ATTRA Freeze Protection for Livestock Watering Systems
3. male gas fitting on one side (to match from trampling and damaging the bottle,
the internal threads on the bottle valve) regulator or tubing.
and a tattered pipe thread fitting on the
other side. The pipe thread will be a male Energy-free livestock waterers
thread, ¼ or ⅜ inches in nominal pipe
A variation on water systems is to use an
size. The adaptor fitting that connects
insulated livestock waterer in the manner
the regulator to the tubing will be a ¼-
suggested by the government of Alberta’s
or ⅜-inch male pipe thread on one side,
Agriculture and Food program. This pro-
which corresponds to the female threads
gram has tested low-input, energy-free live-
in the regulator. The regulator will have
stock water delivery and heating technology
an arrow pointing in the direction of flow
that relies on geothermal heat to keep water
stamped onto the regulator body. On the
open during cold weather, as low as -15
other side of the fitting will be a ¼- or ⅜-
degrees Fahrenheit (AFMRC, 1994). For a
inch compression fitting to connect to the
report on the construction, use and mainte-
tubing (depending on the size of tubing
nance of the energy-free system, see the pub-
you choose).
lication Energy Free Water Fountains from
It is recommended that you construct a Alberta Agriculture and Food at www1.
protective device to cover the tank and agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/
shield the tubing, and to keep livestock eng3133/$file/706.pdf?OpenElement.
References
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, Alberta Build it Solar. Build it Solar, a Renewable Energy Site
Farm Machinery Research Centre (AFMRC). 1994. for Do-it-yourselfers. www.builditsolar.com/Projects/
Energy Free Water Fountains. www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/
WaterHeating/water_heating.htm#Animals
$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/eng3133
Web site includes resources for heating water for
Further resources animals, including solar-heated tanks.
Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development. 1991.
Field Study of Electrically Heated and Energy Free MiraFount Livestock Water Systems
Automated Livestock Water Fountains. www.miraco.com/default.aspx
www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/eng3134 Manufacturer of energy-free livestock watering systems.
Alberta Farm Machinery Research Center (AFMRC).
1994. Energy Free Water Fountains. Murdoch’s Ranch & Home Supply
www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/ www.murdochs.com
eng3133/$file/706.pdf?OpenElement Source of MiraFount Livestock Water Systems.
www.attra.ncat.org ATTRA Page 3