Emergency Water Storage
for Livestock and Crop Production
Prepared April 2013
by Tom Glanville and Shawn Shouse, ISU Extension Agricultural Engineers
Drought in Iowa – Improving
March 5, 2013
•
~44% of Iowa remains in severe
to extreme drought (4/9/2013)
April 9, 2013
• Even with normal rainfall, wells in
some areas may not fully recover
in 2013
2
Streamflow in Iowa - Improving
•
Streamflow and topsoil moisture respond quickly to precipitation
March 6, 2013
April 3, 2013
3
Shallow groundwater & wells in Iowa
•
•
•
Respond much more slowly to rainfall than topsoil & streams
Groundwater levels improving in NE Iowa …. remain low in NW Iowa
According to IDNR, some NW Iowa water systems are starting 2013 growing
season with lower groundwater reserves than in 2012
March 6, 2013
April 3, 2013
http://www.iowadnr.gov/Environment/WaterQuality/WaterSummaryUpdate.aspx
4
Drought Impacts on Wells
•
•
•
Many farms & Rural Water Systems rely on shallow groundwater
Shallow aquifers rely on normal precipitation to recharge them
During drought… groundwater declines...wells may not meet daily water demands
Normal well output
Reduced well output
Normal water table
Drought-affected water table
5
Drought Impacts on Water Supply
(gallons per minute)
Flow Rate
– Daily peak water demands increase (hot weather)
– System capacity decreases (low groundwater levels)
– Demand exceeds capacity….causing periods of inadequate system
pressure & flow
Water system capacity
Water demand
Midnight
6am
Noon
6pm
Midnight
6
Stretching Drought Affected Water Systems
• Improve overall water use efficiency (conserve water)
• Reduce peak system demands….some Regional Rural Water
systems now asking:
– Livestock producers to install on-farm water storage to “even out”
demands on the system
– Crop producers to fill crop sprayers from private wells if possible
• Example: If 8 daily 500 gallon sprayer fills are anticipated
• Pumping/storing 7.5 gallons/minute during 9 hour “off-peak” period (9 PM - 6 AM)
could supply 4050 gallons for sprayer fills the following day
7
On-farm Water Storage
• Improves ability of drought-stressed wells and rural water
connections to meet daily water needs
– Stores water at night when well or rural water capacity exceeds farm
demands
– Provides supplemental flow when peak demands exceed well or rural
water capacity
8
(gallons per minute)
Flow Rate
On-farm Water Storage to
Meet Peak Demands
Water system capacity
Water demand
Midnight
6am
Noon
6pm
Midnight
Water in tank
9
Emergency Water Storage Requirements
• High capacity
– 1,000’s of gallons needed for large poultry/livestock operations
• Obtained/constructed/installed quickly
– In response to sudden water shortage
• Low cost
– Probably used only during drought or other emergencies
10
Options for Emergency Water Storage
• Permanent
• Semi-permanent (non-portable)
• Temporary/portable
11
Permanent Water Storage
• Stand-alone underground concrete tank; or
• Tank “basement” built beneath office of livestock facility
(Note: Iowa DNR does not allow common wall between
potable water and manure storage tanks)
• Long lifetime
• Expensive for short-term (drought) use
– May be a good long-term investment by livestock operations
using low-yield wells (typical in Southern Iowa)
12
Underground concrete water storage
2400-head Southern Iowa swine finishing operation
• 14,000 gallon underground tank w ½ height shelter house for controls
• Costs: ~ $20,000 for tank & shelter and
~ $10,000 pumps, wiring, controllers, plumbing
13
Semi-permanent Water Storage
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Shallow “tank” constructed with bin rings, or small earthen “pond”
Seal with waterproof liner
Constructed relatively quickly (1-2 weeks)
Offer large capacity @ relatively low initial cost
Not portable
Weathering (sunlight/freezing) limits liner life
Open top
– Expect airborne contamination…water OK for livestock, not for humans
– Some water lost to evaporation
14
Semi-permanent Storage Examples
15,000 gal capacity
36 ft dia X 2 ft deep
15,000 gal capacity
32 ft X 32 ft (surface) X 3 ft deep
2:1 wall side slope
•
•
•
•
•
•
Vinyl pond liners ~ $0.60 to $0.85 per square foot (12 to 36 mil thickness)
Underliner (geotextile) ~ $0.35 per square foot
Bin sheets ~ $12 per linear foot of circumference (for 20-36 foot dia.)
Excavation ~ $2.50 per cubic yard
15,000 gallons: ~$3,500 above ground, $2,750 excavated
Above ground: $1000 + $0.15/gallon; Excavated: $1000 + $0.11/gallon
15
Portable/Collapsible “Onion” Tanks
• Self-supporting open-topped
• Limited max capacity ... 6000-20,000 gal depending on brand
• More expensive than semi-permanent options, but portable
http://www.sei-ind.com/products/onion-tank
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Portable/Collapsible “Onion” Tanks
• Covers available, but not sealed
•
•
– Expect airborne contamination…water OK for livestock, NOT humans
– Some water loss due to evaporation
Risk of spillage reported….especially if not positioned on flat site
Useful life? Significantly impacted by how carefully it is stored
http://store.interstateproducts.com/products/Onion-Tanks
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Portable/Collapsible “Pillow” Tanks
• Totally sealed, no evaporation or airborne contaminants
• Stable, no water loss caused by tipping or bumping
• Portable…can be installed indoors to reduce solar heat
gain…..livestock prefer cool water
http://store.interstateproducts.com/water_bladders.htm
• Useful life
– Longer if installed indoors or under roof
– Impacted by storage
• Example dimensions
– 10,000 gallons -- 23 ft x 21 ft x 3 ft
– 20,000 gallons – 33 ft x 25 ft x 3.5 ft
http://www.water-storage-tank.com/pillowtank.html
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Example Costs for Portable & Semi-permanent Tanks
20000
y = 0.5143x + 9257
18000
Onion Co #1
Estimated or Reported Cost ($)
16000
Pillow Co #1
Onion Co #2
14000
y = 0.3315x + 3352.8
Pillow Co #2
12000
Onion Co #3
y = 0.4792x + 1515
10000
Pillow Co #3
y = 0.42x + 2492
Pillow Co #4
y = 0.5861x + 1295.5
8000
Bin Ring
y = 0.3014x + 839.79
6000
y = 0.15x + 1000
4000
y = 0.11x + 1000
2000
0
5000
10000
15000
20000
25000
• Shop around to find best price
Lined Pond
y = 0.1883x + 1705.1
0
• Note significant difference in
prices among vendors of
pillow/onion tanks.
30000
35000
• Search Web using search
terms such as: pillow tank,
onion tank, blivets, water
bladder, emergency water
storage, potable water bladder
Capacity (gallons)
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Background and Caveats
• Mention of specific brands/prices is for educational purposes only and does not
imply product endorsement by Iowa State University
• Some vendors report 2-3 week delivery times …. contact suppliers for details
• Onion/pillow prices as of March 2013 …. via informal phone/email survey
• Note price difference among collapsible tank brands…..shop around for best price
• Bin ring & lined pond costs estimated based on estimated component and
excavation prices mentioned in slide # 11
• Costs estimates do not include pumps, controllers, or extension of piping and
electrical service lines
• Safety First ! Seek assistance from qualified electrical & plumbing contractors to
help insure safe installation and physical protection of appropriately sized electrical
circuits and plumbing lines.
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Estimating Costs
• Regardless of type of emergency storage, all require additional:
– Pump & control system
– Piping & electrical power extensions
– Prices will vary with site conditions & available equipment
From well, rural water, or tanker
To water distribution system
Grounded & physically protected power circuit
pump
Emergency
storage
pump/pressure controller
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How Much Emergency Storage?
• Depends on how it will be used
• For livestock…suggest minimum of 2-3 days of water
– Provides “cushion” of time to react to unanticipated problems
•
•
•
•
Well/pump failure
Sudden excessive demand on regional rural water system
Delays in water hauling services
Delays obtaining emergency storage components
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Approximate Daily Water Use by Beef Cattle
(gallons per 100 head per day)
Weight
400 lb
600 lb
800 lb
1000 lb
Lactating cows
Mature bulls
70 degrees F
580
870
1070
1260
1690
1260
90 degrees F
950
1430
1740
2060
1820
2060
Source: Water Requirements for Beef Cattle, University of Nebraska Extension
Publication G2060, March 2011
http://www.ianrpubs.unl.edu/live/g2060/build/g2060.pdf
NOTE: If available, operation-specific water meter data typically provide a better estimate than tabulated values
23
Approximate Daily Water Use by Dairy Cattle
(gallons per head per day)
Type
Milking cow
Dry cow
gallons/day
30-50
12-30
Source: Private Water Systems Handbook (5th edition),
Midwest Plan Service, 2009
NOTE: If available, operation-specific water meter data typically provide a better estimate than tabulated values
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Approximate Daily Water Use by Swine
(gallons per 100 pig spaces per day)
Production Phase Feed/water type
Normal
Dry, arid
climate
Nursery
dry/nipple
149
118
Wean-finish
dry feed/nipple
136
Wean-finish
dry feed/cup
148
Wean-finish
wet/dry
102
Wean-finish
wet/dry & cup
137
Grow-finish
dry feed/nipple
233
Grow-finish
dry feed / cup
115
Grow-finish
wet/dry
125
Grow-finish
wet/dry & cup
144
Gestation - Farrowing
wet/dry trough – dry feed /nipple
567
Gilt development
wet/dry trough
143
246
1016
Source:
Special Edition REPORT:
WATER WISE - Make Every
Drop Count on Your Farm,
National Pork Board, April
2012
http://www.pork.org/filelibrary/
april2012.pdf
25
Approximate Daily Water Use by Poultry
(gallons per 1000 birds per day)
Age/type
6-wk broilers
8-wk broilers
Adult white leghorn
layers
70
90 degrees
degrees F F
44
72
56
46
81
57
Source: Dr. Hongwei Xin, Director -- Egg Industry Center
NOTE: If available, operation-specific water meter data typically provide a better estimate than tabulated values
26
Final Thoughts
• Emergency storage can help a drought-impaired water
source to meet peak daily water needs
• All emergency storage alternatives require time to
construct/install
– Even flexible tanks may have 2-3 week delivery
– Begin planning & component acquisition NOW before summer
temperatures and water supply stresses reach problem levels
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