Homemade Energy Free Stock Water Tanks

A reliable water supply for livestock is crucial to the health and well-being of the herd or flock. Keeping water from freezing in northern climates presents a challenge. Many commercial stock water tank heaters are available, but they all require energy in the form of electricity, coal or gas. Some stockmen and women choose to build their own energy free stock water tanks.

  1. Using Water Flow to Keep Tanks Free of Ice

    • According to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs, most energy-free stock water tank systems prevent water freezing with ground heat and water flow. Using water flow to keep a stock tank ice-free is a delicate balance.

      The principle is that the water the livestock consumes is replaced in the tank with water that is at a temperature above freezing due to the ground heat around the water pipes. In order for this to work, you must match the water tank capacity closely with the number of animals consuming water. A tank that is too large for the herd results in not enough water being replaced and the tank freezing. A tank too small results in stress on the animals due to lack of water. Dairy cattle require up to 30 gallons of water per day, while beef cattle drink about 25 and horses about 12.

      Multiply the number of head of livestock times the per-day consumption to determine the amount of water each day that will flow into the tank. If water freezes in six hours in your climate, for example, the water in the tank would need to be replaced four times per day, meaning the ideal tank capacity would be one fourth the total daily consumption of the herd.

      This system has a few drawbacks. Changes in herd size may require changes to the water tank, and this makes no allowance for extreme cold weather.

    Solar Power and Stock Water Tanks

    • Another option is a passive solar stock water tank. Place the water tank in an insulated box with only a small opening at the top for the livestock to access the water. Cover one side of the box, usually one of the longer sides of the tank, with acrylic plastic to allow sunlight to strike the metal tank, providing passive solar energy to keep the tank ice-free. The highest efficiency occurs if you point the acrylic plastic side of the insulated tank towards the south.