Systems Water Delivery

Doc-t June 24, 2015
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Water either comes from the ground or the sky.  It is then tapped and poured into a container for our horses to drink.  Simple in concept, the different systems devised by humans to get this heavy liquid, necessary for life, to the horse are many.

Water treated using filters and additives such as chlorine can make it safe to drink or reduce odors. However, some horses drink more when the tank water is dirty.  I don’t know the correct answer, but I think it is true that moving water (creek, spring-fed, artesian well) or changed water (refreshed daily) is OK, while stagnant water is bad.  Dead animals in the water are harmful.  Some leave the fill hose or another solid object in the water to allow animals and insects to find an escape route.  Green growth on the tank wall in freshwater is not harmful as this keeps the water clean – as long as freshwater continues to enter the tank. Some even add fish to a large tank of water to maintain the health of the water. No harm seems to come to horses drinking moving water with fish.

Winter adds another factor to drinking.  When I lived in upstate New York, where winter had temperatures below 0 F (-18 C), the buckets in the stalls became an ice cube.  Every day the ice was smashed out of the bucket or placed in a warm tack room to melt it enough to remove the cube.  Outside, the stock tanks commonly had an electric heater that kept the water ice-free.

We discovered and used a propane heater to keep our tanks ice-free on our farm.  A large LP tank was delivered in the fall, filled throughout the winter and removed in the spring.  A metal boot-shaped and waterproof structure inserted into one end of the metal tank heated the water in the coldest weather.  It was about 6 inches (15cm) in diameter and about 3 feet (1m) tall.  Inside this structure was a burner, and a pilot flame like you would see on any water heater.  A thermostat regulated when the flame was ignited or snuffed.  Not only was the water warmed, but the horses drank more water in winter than I had ever seen before using this heater.  As a vet, I have never seen any other farm with these heaters in all my years.  They were a little finicky, but they were excellent.

This gallery shows the many plumbing systems used to store, filter or move water.  Some are perfect anywhere, and some only where temperatures remain above freezing.  Below-freezing adds complexity to systems.

Water bucket safety prevents eyelid damage.

Water buckets can be dangerous because the handles and the snaps can tear the eyelids off. This is common and the video here is on “Water Bucket Safety.”

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Carbon water filter system at a barn located in warm weather. The hose is being run from the spigot through the filters and into the stall in the background for the horse to drink.
Frozen water buckets in the barn is not healthy if not kept cleared of ice. Many use electric devices to keep these clear of ice. Rubber buckets are easier to knock out the ice with a 2 pound hammer.
Buckets kept clean
Buckets kept clean on a wash rack
Buckets attached near floor level allows drinking off of the floor and prevents the horse from rubbing his butt against them
Buckets hung correctly and ends taped. Filling pipe extend to the bottom of the buckets.
Neoprene wraps made for covering wire junction to prevent tail catching and eyelid lacerations.
Neoprene wraps made for covering wire junction to prevent tail catching and eyelid lacerations.
Bucket hooks, the red is correct and the green is incorrect. Also the handle ends on the green one are exposed.
Water bucket with safety attachment of handle. Also a bucket hanger style facing correctly..
Water bucket with taped edges protects eyelids. Note the rubber tipped water spout to fill the bucket
A dog automatic water bowl on a wash rack outside the barn.
An automatic water dispenser with clean water in a clean bowl. The mineral deposits on the bowl are permanent.
Thumb latch faces the eyelids and the handle ends are open creating the potential for lid tears. Also a filthy corner.
The S hooks are eyelid rippers. And the filthy bucket and wall is poor horse husbandry.
This set up for mini horses keeps the handles away from the face. The plastic protectors on the wire tips are in place.
All thumb latches are facing the correct way – towards the wall and away from the eye lids. The handle attachments could be covered for better safety.
The handle on the right is missing the plastic protector exposing an eyelid to ripping.
Water buckets
Thumb snaps – the one on the left is correct with the latches facing towards the wall. The one on the right is wrong where the latch can catch the eyelid.
This is a propane driven instant hot water system next to the wash area. The system is taken down during winter due to freezing of the lines.
This is a propane driven instant hot water system next to the wash area. The system is taken down during winter due to freezing of the lines.
This simple hose extension transforms the overpowered stream or spray into a steady flow of water for filling buckets.
A drain has been installed in this plastic automatic water system. The owner reports that there is occasional leakage around the fitting.
A drain has been installed in this plastic automatic water system. The owner reports that there is occasional leakage around the fitting.
An antique hydrant being used on a farm in New York. The gasget is made of leather. The valve is 3 feet below the surface and turning the handle opens it.
An automatic water system with heat to prevent freezing. I’m not sure if this system is safe for horses if they should become cast.
A Propane driven instant hot water heated mounted on the side of a barn. The cost was $138 on Amazon. It worked beautifully in the 40 degree morning.
A Propane driven instant hot water heated mounted on the side of a barn. The cost was $138 on Amazon. It worked beautifully in the 40 degree morning.
This well made wash rack will never have mud as the bricks allow for the water to drain away into the sandy soil. There is a propane driven instant hot water heater mounted on the barn wall that is fed from the hydrant at the barn door.
A simple lever action water delivery in a stall requires the horse to press his nose to get more water. The bowl is heated as is the whole water line providing continuous flow in the sub freezing temperatures.
A simple lever action water delivery in a stall requires the horse to press his nose to get more water. The bowl is heated as is the whole water line providing continuous flow in the sub freezing temperatures.
The installation of this automatic water system is solid using bolts and the intake pipe is well protected from damage.
This automatic water system is common on cattle farms and uses a lever system to open the water valve. It is activated by pressure applied by the horse’s nose.
The ceiling mounted water reservoir with gravity feeds to the stalls.
This trap is part of the water intake to the ceiling mounted reservoir.
Water is pumped into this reservoir giving a 3 day supply of water for 2 horses. It is gravity fed which allows water flow without electricity. It also airs out the sulfur smell before being delivered to the horses.
A flow meter is placed in line with this water line to monitor the amount of water consumed by the horse.
A custom made cage prevents damage to the automatic water bowl.
Lever valve auto water with the pipe covered in a corner shield.
The latch is a sliding piece of board with a security chain. A water pipe comes from the ground for the water tank.
Centralized auto-waterers. These are convenient but can be daaged by the horse. The rubber hose is a good idea because if the horse bumps the device off the wall, the pipe won’t break like a plastic one would. Note there is no convenient shut off valve.
Automatic water dispenser permanently set in between 2 paddocks. A dangerous set up.
Automatic water dispenser permanently set in between 2 paddocks. A dangerous set up. Pipe fencing is used on this FL farm – very unusual for this area.
A water tub in a paddock on a platform with a small roof for shade
Copper pipe water controls outside of a stall, forged tack hooks in the shape of leather buckels.
Water filing pipes integrated into stall bars.
Buckets hung correctly and ends taped. Filling pipe extend to the bottom of the buckets.
PVC pipe cut in 1/2 to protect water pipe
The water pump and water storage located on a cement pad between the paddocks well away from the barn
External water valves plus a recessed box for halter and electricity.
Recessed handles control water flow into individual buckets inside the stall.
On the right is a waste containment area made of concrete with a roof. On the left are 2 large water heaters and a pressure tank
Hydrant with an industrial hose coiler
Hydrant
Hot and cold hydrants with a decorative sink
Water filtering system in Florida
Recessed handles control water flow into individual buckets inside the stall.
Hose fed outdoor water tank in Florida with runoff keeps the drinking water clean by movement
A valved feeder hose outside of a stall
Decorative hose container
Valves outside the stall with pipes inside.
Pipes inside the stall and the valves are outside
An organized water filtering system in a barn
Recessed handles control water flow into individual buckets inside the stall.
Recessed handles control water flow into individual buckets inside the stall.
Water flows from openings with outside the stall valves
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