[Jackpine Savage]

Paul, I had a similar set up when I was running the grazing dairy. The well was in the center of a square 160 acre piece. The paddocks were rectangles 10 acres a piece. We had an east west main line with 900 ft drops running in between a pair of paddocks. To the end of the farthest hydrant was close to 2000'. We ran down through one low spot and up again to a hill, but probably not quite as much change in elevation as you have.

We ran the system off the main well which had a 1hp submersible.

We ran 1 1/4" poly the first 300' each way on the main line, the rest was 1" poly. We didn't bury the line, just ran it down the fence lines. We tried to drain it in the winter, but usually would have a half dozen splits to fix in the spring. We used 300ft rolls.

We used Plasson quick connect hydrants every 300' in the paddocks. The tank was 75 gallons. This was for 100 dairy cows. With cattle, if they are further than 500-600 feet from water they will go as a group and mob the water tank. If you keep the water source close, only one or two will use it at a time.

Edited one more time to add that we used the full flow PVC ball valves. Put them in where it makes sense so you can isolate leaks.

 

[Jackpine Savage]

That's a good link that agmanto posted. We worked off something similar. I'm sure our leaks came from water freezing in the line, there would usually be a bulge and a split. Our frost line is close to 4' so burying would have been a job. Also, a downside to burying the line is that leaks are harder to find and fix. Do you have gophers?

As long as the line had pressure in it we had no trouble driving over it with tractors, manure spreaders, and even a concrete truck. It would be better to protect it from heavy traffic though.

If you end up with a lower flow rate than required you can compensate with a larger tank.

We got the Plasson valves and tank valves from Kentucky Graziers: http://www.kygraziers.com/kgshop/ . The tank valves are full flow, that's important. If you're pumping pond water you may have trouble with tank valves getting stuck, a filter might be needed.

I would avoid the plastic compression couplings. We used the plastic barb couplers and good hose clamps. If it's cold when you put the system together use a propane torch to heat the pipe a little. Especially if you put it underground.

We got our pipe from a Fleet Farm store. In their catalog it shows 1"x300' for $34.47. 1 1/4"x300' is $61.47. 1 1/2" x 100' is $26.99.

Another option for you might be a plastic water tank on a trailer.