1000 gallon external water tank

[mercman]

As I'm living in my 264BHW while I'm building my home I wanted a better water supply so I'm purchasing a 1000 gallon external water tank. I'll be building a platform (3 4x4x8' on pier blocks, with two sheets of 3/4" plywood, framed with 6x6x8' with insulation between the 6x6's and then another two sheets of 3/4" plywood) The tank will sit on top of the platform and then I'll frame around it with 6x6's, insulate between them and install an hallway heater inside.

My question is, should I run the output of the tank into the city water port or just use it to fill the onboard tank?

Thanks for your help in this!

Kurt

[gpd2111]

If there isn't pressure there is no reason to run to the city water. Run it to your fresh tank and let your pump build pressure

[Lake Huron]

If the bottom of the 1k tank is higher than the city water connection, there will be water pressure there but as the tank water gets depleted the line pressure will get less and less.
If you take the 1k tank and plumb it into your fresh tank as a free flow line, it will fill your fresh tank and probably push the rest out the overflow line. Water seeks it's own level. If you decide to plumb it that way, I'd put in a shutoff valve easily accessible to be able to fill your fresh tank as needed.

[pward]

Curious what you're going to use to fill the 1000 gal tank?

[NewBlackDak]

Why not just route a line from your pump to the tank? Solves both the possible overflow, and the pressure issues.

[Midnightmoon]

Forum member Woodworker has a really nice little 12-volt pump setup to transfer water from his storage tank to his trailer as needed. Maybe shoot him a PM if you would be interested in something along that route.

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by pward

Curious what you're going to use to fill the 1000 gal tank?

And, what's going to keep it from growing algae while the water is sitting in it, stagnant?

[Jagiven]

Someone a few years ago posted a similar dilemma. They had the tank on the ground, no insulation. They added a 12 volt RV pump on the outside, between the tank and the RV city water connection. When they turned on a faucet, the pressure dropped, and the pump turned on, just like the FW tank pump. Do not recall them ever commenting about algae. They did not have the tank in enclosed.

My DW's grandmother had a 1000 gallon FW tank at her house (just past away a couple years ago). She lived directly above a mine, and could not have a well pipe. She never had an issue. I do not recall how she arrange to have water delivered, but someone delivered the water.

Not sure where Pine is located. But I would not worry much about heating the tank. I have a small 400 gallon pond at my place. I have a small pump I run all winter, with a simple DIY venturi aerator. It keeps the pond open all winter, and the fish survive. If you really want heat, I would consider wrapping the tank with some heat tape for roofs, and adhere it to the tank with some foil duct tape. In reality I would worry more about keeping the FW hose between the tank and the TT from freezing.

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by gpd2111

If there isn't pressure there is no reason to run to the city water. Run it to your fresh tank and let your pump build pressure

BUT, if you don't have a way to shut off the water going into the fresh water tank, it will run out the overflow!

[SloPoke]

Lots of questions about tank location and grade... but another is: You are certainly focused on insulating this thing.. so it sounds like it is going to be in cold climate. Any hose/pipe that runs from this "source" has to get to your RV as well. Please give us the rest of the plans... are you planning to have this gravity fed into your RV, Pressure fed when you have the hose hooked up? Lots of questions in my mind to respond with....

what are you doing to keep the supply plumbing to your RV from freezing? It appears that you are heating the water tank, but the plumbing that leaves the tank and joins to your RV is the most vulnerable.

[Grumpy]

If you use the fresh water connection and set your pump for Winterize/Sanitize it will be the same as pumping our of a gallon antifreeze jug. No need for a second pump or filling the tank. Just be sure you use a heated hose for the connection.

[mercman]

Thanks for all the replies!! I've thought of some of these issues but not others as I'm more of a backpack/tent camper than an RV camper.

My 1K gallon tank outlet will be at about the same level as the H2O input so I'm sure there will be some pressure from gravity.

The tank will be filled by a local water service which is very common here in the mountains. My trailer site is at about 8300' and it got down to about -20 degrees over the winter with a wind chill factor of about - 40 degrees. Therefore I'll be insulating and heating the tank and the supply line to the TT.

I'll be skirting the TT and using a heater under the TT to keep things from freezing but will be evaluating how much heat to put in. Heat tape or space heater? Skirting will be a 2x4 insulated wall.

So my thoughts are to either hard line to the city input or use a sanitary hose to the tank fill input...............

I've run a 100 Amp 240V line out to the trailer site and will be heating that up in the next few weeks so power won't be a problem. I've been running generators since I moved on last June. I have three and swap them out at they need maintenance. I've had good luck with the WEN's which all three genny's are. A 2 Kw, a 3. 8 Kw and a conventional 4. 75 KW that I use for running my power tools. WEN has taken good care of me as I think that these are not made for the continuous usage that I'm doing.

[cekkk]

Wind chill isn't a factor other than to speed up the tank reaching ambient temperature. So nothing to worry about there.

[Jagiven]

Temps sound a lot like ours.

You can buy an electrical heated water hose.

https://www.amazon.com/lifestyles-He...+water+&sr=8-5

[NewBlackDak]

Is the trailer or tank skirted? Could you do both and bury the short run over to help protect from the temps?

[mercman]

Originally Posted by NewBlackDak

Is the trailer or tank skirted? Could you do both and bury the short run over to help protect from the temps?

The TT will be skirted and the H2O tank will be enclosed and insulated. I like the idea of the heated water hose posted by a previous member.

[flyfishscott]

You mentioned mountains and Pine. I was wondering if Pine Idaho but the elevations (and temps) dont really match. Now if it was Stanley Idaho the elevations and certainly temps match. Just curious is all.

[mercman]

Pine, CO! Idaho is nice but I retired from the Feds in Golden, CO so here I'll stay.

Kurt