Submitted by benediktdairy on Sun, 08/23/2015 - 4:00pm Tool Concept Primary problem statement: I am a rancher and I want a tool to provides water to cows at low cost and is easy to move because rotational grazing depends on flexible water systems. Read more about this problem statement License: This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Description: Easy to move, low cost watering system that reduces issues associated with fixed watering locations.Add new comment Documentation Documentation Wiki: Waterline is run from a central watersource to each 1 acre paddock with as many waterers added as needed and the entire system is kept under pressure. Valves are not used to reduce complexity, expense and animals messing with the valves. The assembly is simply to attach heavy rubber hose to branches from a central waterline run to temporary paddocks. The 30-50' rubber hose provides a flexible kink free section to enable the tubs to easily be moved to new locations. The tub end of the rubber hose is attached to the PVC bracket over the lip of the juice drum which positions the float valve such that it is secure from animals fiddling with it. The 1" Hudson Valve is threaded into the PVC section. 3/4" fittings and waterlines are far less expensive than 1" and provide enough flow to quickly keep up with animal use. The float valve has survived two winters without issue and the animals can't mess with it. The primary risk is that a waterer is dumped over which will leave the pressurized system running until it is discovered. A FIDO or similar water level alert of flow alert would be a logical module/improvement to add to this waterer design. Waterer for rotational grazingAdd new comment User Manual User Manual Wiki: Waterers are heavy enough that cows or sheep don't tip them over, but light enough they can be dumped to move them empty to a new location. It is also easy to clean out each time it is moved. Since the entire system is pressurized, when the waterer is moved to a new location it is quickly filled with clean water. For winter storage the water pressure can be turned off, water blown out of system and waterers turned upside down for storage in the field.Add new comment Skills Skills Wiki: PVC cutting and bonding basic water line plumbing (threading pipe fittings and using hose clamps on barbed fittings) Polyetheline tub barrel cuttingAdd new comment I like this tool up3 users have voted. I built (or modified) this tool up0 users have voted.
