Overflow Pipe Ideas..

[chaded]

I’m looking for some ideas for an overflow pipe to keep cattle from messing with it. I got a call today from the water company and they said they checked our meter yesterday and we used 52,000 gallons. Our house is on a hill and 1600 feet from the meter with multiple split off for tanks and whatnot so I was not looking forward to finding the leak. Thankfully in my search I found that it was the tank the cows were using this past month. They knocked the overflow pipe loose.

The overflow pipe is 1.5” pvc that is joined together with a fernco. I was told it was done so if the cows messed with it it wouldn’t break it off where it threads into the bottom of the tank. That’s fine but the cows just knocked the top section of the pipe enough to allow water to flow in where the fernco is under the water. So it was essentially draining while keeping the water level so you couldn’t see it by glancing at it.

I have thought about sinking a couple posts of some sort and running something across the tank. There is a thick gravel pad around the tank though…tank is a concrete tank and the drain is roughly in the middle.

 

[Brute 23]

Can you see where the overflow drains? That sounds like some thing worth glancing at.

 

[greybeard]

If a Fernco is what i think it is (rubber coupling with 2 hose clamps?) I can't see using it any where around cattle.


It's hard to visualize your set up. As they say, a picture is worth 1000 words.

 

[chaded]

Can you see where the overflow drains? That sounds like some thing worth glancing at.

Not really, if you are thinking I should have seen the water coming out. Lol.

The drain exits probably 20 feet or so down over the hill. The pipe is not visible. Probably because it was put in a spot the cattle have access to and they have damaged the outlet area.

 

[Brute 23]

Not really, if you are thinking I should have seen the water coming out. Lol.

The drain exits probably 20 feet or so down over the hill. The pipe is not visible. Probably because it was put in a spot the cattle have access to and they have damaged the outlet area.

Well I see many-a-water bill in your future. Yalls water just be cheap. We pay for cell cams over water because a broken float or some thing of that nature can be a $100 bill in electricity alone from the pump running, not counting it it was on a water system where you had to pay for the actual water.

 

[chaded]

Well I see many-a-water bill in your future. Yalls water just be cheap. We pay for cell cams over water because a broken float or some thing of that nature can be a $100 bill in electricity alone from the pump running, not counting it it was on a water system where you had to pay for the actual water.

Surprising this is the first time it has happened in around 10 years. Our water is cheap but I pay a $2.00 a month leak insurance so I won’t pay over our average monthly bill for this. I probably need to change the overflow pipe to one that can’t lose water halfway under water because the water company likely will not be happy if it keeps happening.

 

[kenny thomas]

May i ask why you have an overflow? Cap it off at the bottom and allow your float to do the rest.

 

[chaded]

May i ask why you have an overflow? Cap it off at the bottom and allow your float to do the rest.

Probably not a bad idea actually.

 

[GoWyo]

I had a calf get in my tire tank despite pipe rails to keep them out. Broke off the 2" PVC overflow pipe down at the bottom. I just plugged it at the bottom drain with a 2" plug for now. The overflow was a NRCS requirement on an EQIP project, but it is off contract now. Haven't missed it yet, but when it's time to drain it and shovel out the gunk that accumulates in the bottom every couple years I might wish I had it.

 

[chaded]

I had a calf get in my tire tank despite pipe rails to keep them out. Broke off the 2" PVC overflow pipe down at the bottom. I just plugged it at the bottom drain with a 2" plug for now. The overflow was a NRCS requirement on an EQIP project, but it is off contract now. Haven't missed it yet, but when it's time to drain it and shovel out the gunk that accumulates in the bottom every couple years I might wish I had it.

I’m pretty sure this tank was put in on equip as well. It was here when I bought this place. If I cap it off I’m thinking about leaving enough pipe where I can still unscrew it and drain it but under the surface enough the cows can’t nose it around.

I have an Jobe adaptor for a garden hose so I can disconnect my jobe float valve with 3/4 turn and connect a hose and spray the tank and wash the gunk out the drain.

 

[kenny thomas]

Mine is capped off just high enough so the cap can screw on. But my float is remote from the tank so there is nothing in my tank for them to break off.