A water tower placed at the highest point on the land or rooftop, is needed for gravity fed water pressure. Reducing energy use.

Water at pressure is needed separately for both fresh potable drinking water and non-potable dirtier irrigation water.

IBC Tote Tower

Inspiration:

Requirements:

See Irrigation for Ridgeline needs.

Stacked Functions:

• Irrigation and potable water storage for gravity fed head pressure.
• Very low energy water pressure
  • upper platform would also stack 2 totes high for increased water pressure.
• Low cost water storage
  • Space for storage of 4 totes below at ground, stacked 2 high so 8 totes in total. 
  • Plus 2 to 4 totes on platform.
• Rainwater harvesting
  • roof also harvests rainwater for tanks. <3m X 3m for 9sqm.
• Fog water harvesting
  • Draped with netting to capture fog water
• Irrigation fertilisation
  • dosing of water lines, with upper platform mini tanks.
• Solar energy
  • solar panel roof, clockwise from North orientation 12° with tilt of  28°.
  • solar to power electric fence, cameras, perimeter sensors, water pumps, solenoids, etc.
• Wind turbine tower post
• Lookout, office work and lunch area.
  • a good look-out point, seating for 2 and as a security watchtower.
  • workstation desk/bench with a view.
  • seating stools, bar and space for  minor equipment like solar, security cameras and batteries.
  • totes would be lined up against Southern side to block prevailing winds.
• Security
  • Lookout platform
  • Surveillance cameras
  • Infrared/laser boundary sensors
  • Drone operations
• Perch point for birds (kookaburras) and bat boxes,
  • for insect, snake and rodent control.

We may need a platform for at least 3 totes. 1 for potable water and 1 with expansion to 2 for non-potable irrigation water. Space for filter drums is needed.

Additionally water storage underneath for 4 totes at ground level and another 4 stacked atop, requiring >2.8m height minimal clearance and similar footprint.

3m X 3m platform, able to support 4.2 tons. A person, 4 water totes, 3 filter barrels, work bench, balustrade safety railings, and minor equipment like solar, pump and batteries.

Design:

A water tower that supports stacked IBC totes atop, each sealed and interconnected with pressure sealed pipe. Enabling pressure and water storage to be stacked high.

Gravity Fed Head Pressure:

• 2.5 feet (76cm) = 1 PSI
• 1PSI = 0.07 Bar
• 1 metre = 0.1 Bar
• 10 metres = 1 Bar
• 1 Bar = 14 PSI
• 1 Bar = 100 Kilopascals kPa
• 1PSI = 6.9 kPa

Head Pressure: Drip irrigation recommends 10 PSI (0.7 Bar) or 25 feet (7.5m) height. Bunnings 13mm Brown drip pipe recommends 100kPa (1 Bar, 14 PSI) pressure, or 10m height.

Sprinklers require 30 PSI (2 Bar) @ 75 feet (22.5m) height above target watering ground level downhill.

IBC Tote Stack Height & Footprint: 1 Bar (100 kPa, 14 PSI), requires 10m height and likely exceeds the pressure holding and engineering capability of stacked metal framed IBC totes. In general, intermediate bulk containers manufactured as stackable are acceptable for stacking 2 high. Thus a water tower may reasonably vertically stack 2 totes at ground level then 2 totes at the first platform approx 3m up. Requiring top tote clearance height of 5m. Thus offering 4.5m of head pressure.

Space for 4 totes at ground level stacked 2 high for a total of 8 totes. Connected with sealed pressure pipe to totes on the above platform. 2 totes stacked 2 high, for a total of 4 totes, means 4 tons, considerate of weight load on platform.

A ground footprint for 4 totes of 2.4m x 2.4m square, fits within the profile of a 3m x 3m tower footprint. However extra support beams may be required inbetween to support platform weight.

IBC Tote Pressure: Automatic relief vents allow Chemical IBC totes to withstand internal pressures up to 1Bar, (100 kPa, 15 psi). As long as the top most tote is filled, water pressure is retained and retrieved from the lowest tote.

Given a 3m tower platform with 2 vertically stacked totes offer 4.5m head height equating to 0.45 Bar, (45 kPa, 6.5 PSI). An additional 3m ground hill slope, for a total of 7.5m head height, may be needed for suitable drip irrigation feeding.

Water Storage: Each tote holds 1000 litres of water. With 8 totes at ground level and 4 totes above, offers 12,000 litres of water storage. Which may be split into potable and non-potable irrigation water storage.

Placement:

• at highest point on ridgeline. Maximise gravity flow downhill.
• Away from trees and falling branches.
• >3m away from boundary and fence. With 3m access all around. As a car needs >2.6m wide access.
• Therefore a circa 3m X 3m platform needs > 9m X 9m ground footprint.

Dimensions:

Platform should be >3m above ground for totes gravity feed of water and storage of stacked totes underneath.  Solar roof should be 2.4m above platform. Therefore roof posts dug in 1m in-ground, may need to be >7m long

• A 3m X 3m Platform, needs 9 posts. Mid post at 1.5m inbetween the totes.
• 4m posts to support Platform likely 3m above ground and 1m below ground. 20-30+cm dia. Gravel at base for quick drainage.
• 7m posts to support Roof likely 6m above ground, (check with top stacked IBC tote and pitched roof clearances needed), and 1m below ground. 15-20cm dia.
• 2 cross bracing logs, tied with strapping to Platform posts.
  • Maybe log lengths are best oriented south-north, against strong southern winds.
• >5 -10 platform logs.
  • Maybe log lengths are best oriented west-east, against western strong winds.
  • Expand platform for person to walk around?
• Metal strapping for cross bracing.
• Metal strapping to lock down tote.
• Cover tote with UV cover. Tie down with bungee cord.
• 7m Strap down per tote.

Roofing:

Roofing materials should be fire and wind proof. Tin sheet roofing or draped concrete canvas / cloth options.

Ideally 3m X 3m offering 9sqm rain water harvesting.

Extended roof framing trusses, to service birds perching,

A pitched roof with overhanging eaves, to protect against prevailing strong southern winds, rain shelter, offer correct tilt north for solar panels and shade.

Ideally a 4-slope hip roof is better against winds. Multiple slopes perform better in high wind situations.

>30cm overhang. Considering Sydney house eaves overhang by 50cm! (40cm eave +10cm gutter).

With solar oriented 28° roof pitch results in a roof profile of: