Getting Water to fill troughs on property without well?

[HungarianHippo]

A well in our area (east central IA) is 12-15k. Ours is 400ft deep, and a large industrial user may need to go 2000ft. We’re not far from southern WI, so the OP’s price estimate does not shock me at all.

OP, given that water supply is critical to the property’s intended use, I really do think it’s scary to buy it without knowing for sure you’ll be able to get water. States typically require well logs to be submitted for an new wells dug, so at least scan the state database for nearby wells, to see how deep they had to go for acceptable water. Here’s WI groundwater data page. that will let you search by county.

A bank loan for 15k would not be onerous to pay off-- I’d strongly consider biting the bullet and getting a well put in before winter. If nothing else, it may determine fencing and home layouts-- based on digging results, the well may not end up in the most convenient place.

You may want to have a geothermal tube dug under your water troughs, so you are not reliant upon electric power to keep your troughs from icing up. For remote horsekeeping, any added layer of resiliency in the event of foul weather would be helpful.

Finally, a winter where you park the horses a few hours away, somewhere that is set up for boarding, would be worth more than being able to ride for a few months.

[Guilherme]

If time is an issue then hauling water in a WI winter is likely NOT a time saver over boarding at a more distant location. Not to mention all the other issues that arise with remote horse keeping.

Bite the bullet, time wise, and commute to a boarding facility, at least for the winter months. You’ll be glad you did.

G.

[trubandloki]

OP, I am impressed that you are thinking of all the good questions here. Good for you!

You already know that hauling water is going to be a tough thing to do, but are trying to figure out how it can be done.

Here are my ramblings:
For things like water you have to have a plan and then a back-up plan because water is just too important to leave to chance.
I say this as someone who has two non-freeze yard hydrants by the barn and one winter the buried line to them failed (a fitting broke underground). Plan B was to use the hose bibb on the side of the house and either use a hose (that we would bring inside when not in use) or carry buckets from there to fill the trough and the stall buckets.
But then the hose bibb broke. It makes me laugh now, then not so happy. We ordered the parts to fix it and while we waited I had to carry water from inside the house to the trough and stalls. Not fun at all.
I ended up doing the five gallon buckets with a trash bag liner (you twist the trash bag closed and put a twist tie on it to prevent splashing loss and mess) lined up in a large sled. It pulled easily on the ice covered drive. (Just a FYI, the trash bags can be a nuisance when you pour, but I found them to be worth it so I could carry more water and spill less.)

If you are going to use a trailer for your holding tank you have to make sure the trailer has your tank higher than your trough of you will need a pump. Not a huge deal but something to keep in mind.
Another thing to keep in mind is that whatever you use for a shut off valve on your tank will likely freeze between uses if the tank is kept outside during the winter.

During the summer I think the bigger tank with a few times per week trough filling will work fine and is your best idea (clearly if a well is not an option or if buying from a neighbor using a simple hose is not an option).
During the winter it might be easier to plan for daily smaller water deliveries.

[Frog_Pond]

@trubandloki

Another thing to keep in mind is that whatever you use for a shut off valve on your tank will likely freeze between uses if the tank is kept outside during the winter.

This, this, this ^^! I use a 40 gallon sprayer tank from Tractor Supply to water my horses in winter. I put it in the bed of a Gator, and fill it from a frost free hydrant. That part’s easy. Draining it into the 5-gallon buckets in my barn is easy, too – I can use gravity (Gator bed is high) or plug in the sprayer mechanism to the 12v/aka cigarette lighter on the Gator and pump it from the sprayer-pump on top of the tank. BUT, both of the water outlets are very vulnerable to freezing. These tanks are not spectacularly well designed and I’ve never met one that drains easily & completely. They’re just not designed for freezing weather. This includes the trailer kind – I looked at many. Expect to crouch next to it with a blow dryer frequently to get that last 1/4 plug of ice out of some essential spot. I drag my smaller tank into my mudroom. It’s light, but bulky and annoying.

I am one of the aforementioned medieval peasant-lifestyle folks who drags water to horses. I live in eastern MA, it’s currently blizzarding, and yes – COTH is correct, it completely sucks. My barn is 800’ away, no power, no water, and redundancy is the key – like trub says – and every single part of your system has to have a backup:

• when my body breaks, I have FOUR trained, local horse-sitter folks on speed-dial that I can call to help ($$)
• when the Gator breaks ($$$), I can either drive our 4wd SUV or call a neighbor to help
• when the tank parts freeze, I have 5 5-gallon water totes that I use instead
• I keep a 25 hose attached to my laundry hot water supply and I use that to fill the tanks/totes, and if that doesn't work, I use the laundry room sink

I don't want to be a total bummer, but I have to add this: in my neighborhood, those of us with wells have to spend between 7-15k on water filtration systems to remove iron and, in some cases, bacteria from the water supply. I'm lucky and can access my well water both before and after filtration -- so my horses usually drink unfiltered, high-iron content water, because it's much, much faster for me. But, it's controversial to let horses drink it (this post is long enough - Google that!). The filtration system has to be inside a heated building, so, if you need one on your future well, there's that to consider. Good luck figuring it out, OP -- horses are a pain, but you have a great attitude. :)

[Sannois]

I guess it it were me I would never consider a property that did not already have a water source. I cannot imagine no matter how well you prepare that if it is super hot or frigid temps as it is so many places now hauling water. Too many variables. Horses are supposed to be fun, and yes it is hard work, why make it harder for yourself. Wait till you find the right place.

[allons-y]

Well I just dealt with no water for a week. I had to haul water in buckets maybe 200 yards, in the bed of my truck, from pond to trough. Teeny, tiny thing compared to what you are talking about. My 2 cents - Hockeysticks No! And I too had redundancy, of course it all broke in the unusual cold temps here. But I was extra miserable because I had no house water either.