Help needed now!!!! Ran out off water. Ideas needed

thatsmygirl

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The yard I keep the horses on is in the middle off no where hence no mains water. It's a active race race and trainer lives on site and is working on the problem as I write this but all ideas welcome at this moment in time. Under the top field is big water tanks which is where our water is stored not just for the yards but house as well. We swapped from the main tank about 8 weeks ago and been on the reserve tank ever since but water troughts in the fields are now not filling up and hose pipes just a trickle. It is serious as we have no water supple left and in total have about 50 horses on site from racers in training, brood mares, foals and my horses. Iv been up there since I was a kid and this has never happened before. But no rain no water for tanks simply. I have thought about taking the bowser down to the local river and filling our tanks that way but are you allowed? I'm not sure. My mare after being ridden this morning had a wash in tescos spring water, had to buy two huge bottles just to get water to bath her. I think we have enough water for the nxt 2 days at a push so please ideas would be great.
 
Not sure where you are but there is a reasonable amount of rain forecast in the east over the next few days - I would buy as many water butts as you can and collect water from every gutter you can when the rain comes - we have 3 big water butts and it's amazing how much you can collect in one good downpour, thats just from the roof of 3 stables.

Obviously if you don't get the rain, or don't have stable buildings that is a rubbish suggestion, but at least if you do you are ready. We have occasionally had to fill water tanks from home and take them to the yard, but tough with 50 horses (esp if you are on a water meter!)
 
sorry, i dont think i ready your post properly - just re-read that you have bowsers... if i were you, id defo be filling them up at the river, espec if your horse's welfare is at risk
 
I think that's what's gona happen but we have been told we are not allowed to help ourselfs from the river. Just wondered if anybody knew the law on this but at the end off the day if I have to I will cause off the horses welfare which if I did get caught hopefully will get taken into account
 
My limited understanding is that you have to apply for a licence from the environment agency to pump water from a river.

I know you'd be doing it for your horses welfare but please think very carefully before taking water from a river without permission as if the river dries up or the levels fall too low then many other animals who live along the river will suffer.
 
Ta for that will ring south west water and see what they can suggest. If I have no choice though I will as the well fair off the horses in my care is my piority.
 
legally since privatisation the water cos have been able to wash their hands (ho ho) of off mains peeps even in these situations. Speak to them tho, morally they should help. If no luck there shame them via MP press etc. Also speak to fire brigade, who might be able to help. Or neighbouring landownerrs on mains.
 
It's of no assistance to you now but we don't have running water at our field either. I save the rainwater in three huge tanks, yesterday was the first day I ran out of water for about two years. If in future you collected rainwater for the horses it would not be such a drain on your other tanks. Do you not have any friendly farmer who would fill your bowsers for a fee?
 
I think that's what's gona happen but we have been told we are not allowed to help ourselfs from the river. Just wondered if anybody knew the law on this but at the end off the day if I have to I will cause off the horses welfare which if I did get caught hopefully will get taken into account
I would find someone who is on the mains and get your bowser filled up there, river water might be contaminated the other people to contact are drain jetting firms as they have stand pipes to access the hydrants in the roads ...
 
I would also check as near to the source as possible. I know someone whose springwater supply dried up recently, when they went to check the pipe 'had become disconnected' from the connecting pipe. This had the effect of diverting the water into a neighbours pipe!
 
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