Mobile Fire Suppression and Food Plotting Water System

Managing water on a remote property or food plot can be an absolute logistical nightmare, whether you need to mix herbicide, manage hot spots during a prescribed burn, or mix concrete on-site.

This mobile water system solves that problem by mounting a powerful 12V transfer pump directly to the lid of a heavy-duty blue barrel, creating an easily transportable off-grid water station.

By utilizing some simple PVC plumbing, you can haul hundreds of gallons of water across rugged terrain and deploy it instantly.

For more DIY ideas, checkout my full list of projects on Reckon I'll Outdoors.

Disclaimer: This project is presented for educational and demonstration purposes only. Any modifications, alternative material selections, or use of this guide for your own builds are done entirely at your own risk. Always follow safety precautions when working with power tools or customized equipment.

Note: Some of the links below may be affiliate links. If you make a purchase through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you, which helps support future DIY builds!

Materials

1. 12V Transfer Pump
2. 12V 18Ah Battery
3. 3/4 Inch Garden Hose Fitting Quick Connector Male and Female Set
4. 3/4″ PVC
5. 3/4-in Push Fitting x 3/4-in Threaded Adapter
6. 3/4-in x 3/4-in 90-Degree Elbow PVC Elbow
7. 3/4-in Threaded Drip Irrigation Female Adapter
8. Teflon Tape
9. 1″ Panhead 1/4″ 20 Stainless Screws (2)
10. 1/4-20 Stainless Nyloc Nuts (2)
11. 1/4-20 Stainless Butterfly Nuts (2)
12. 14″ x 3″ Piece of 1/2″ Plywood or Starboard

Tools

1. Power Drill
2. 1/4″ Drill Bit
3. 1″ Spade Bit or Step Bit
4. PVC Pipe Cutter or Saw
5. PVC Cement

Using the pump base as a physical template, mark the mounting hole locations onto the barrel lid. Drill through the marks with a 1/4″ drill bit, then thread your stainless screws up from the bottom of the lid and lock them in place with nyloc nuts.

Attach the threaded drip irrigation female adapter directly to the intake side of your transfer pump. Wrap the threads of your 3/4" threaded PVC adapter with Teflon tape, and screw it securely into the opposite end of the irrigation adapter.

Drill a clean 1″ hole near the outer rim of the barrel lid using a step bit or spade bit. This hole will serve as the entry point for your main PVC suction pipe to draw water from the bottom of the barrel.

Cut a 35″ section of 3/4″ PVC pipe, slicing the bottom end at a sharp 45-degree angle to prevent the pipe from suctioning flat against the barrel floor. Push-fit a 90-degree elbow adapter onto the straight top end of the pipe.

Drill 1" clearance holes into your 14" x 3" plywood or starboard plate so it sits flush over the lid's nyloc nuts without teetering. Slide the plate over the bolts, place the pump on top, and secure the assembly tightly using stainless butterfly nuts.

Drop the suction pipe through the 1" lid hole, measure the exact span between the 90-degree elbow and your pump's intake adapter, and cut a matching adjoining PVC segment. Insert the segment into the plumbing line and apply PVC cement to the slip-end connection at the pump to seal it permanently.

Connect the transfer pump leads directly to your 12V 18Ah battery to prime and test the system. For maximum efficiency on the field, thread a garden hose quick connector onto the pump's outlet port to allow for rapid, wrench-free hose changes.

This mobile setup is a game-changer for land management, prescribed burns, and remote property maintenance.

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