Irrigation from a tote
A tote on a stand can feed a drip line or hose by gravity, with no pump. The rule of thumb is physics: about 0.43 pounds per square inch for each foot of height. A tote raised four feet gives about 1.7, and the drip kit’s own pressure rating decides if that is enough.
01Gravity or pump
Gravity feed is the simplest. Raise the tote, run the line from the bottom valve and let the head do the work. Each foot of height adds about 0.43 psi at the valve. A tote on a three-foot stand gives about 1.3 psi; on a six-foot stand, about 2.6. Many drip kits ask for more than that, and a few ask for less. Read the kit’s rating, and add a small pump where the head falls short.
A pump changes what the tote needs. A pump draws from the bottom valve or a top lid, and the valve and thread have to match the adapter. The valves and fittings guide goes through those matches.
02How much water
| If the line uses | A 275 lasts | A 330 lasts |
|---|---|---|
| 25 gallons a day | 11 days | 13.2 days |
| 50 gallons a day | 5.5 days | 6.6 days |
| 100 gallons a day | 2.75 days | 3.3 days |
The days are the tote’s volume divided by the daily use, 275 ÷ 25 and so on. Fill from a hose, a rain system or a delivery, and size the tote to the refill you can manage.
03Grade and history
Irrigation water does not need a current retest date. It does need a known last contents. A tote that held a food ingredient, water or a rinse is a fair match for a garden. A tote that held a pesticide or a fuel is not. The desk asks what the tote last held before it matches it to a growing use, and a food-grade history is available where a seller has the record.
04Keeping it clean
- Keep it out of direct sun: a translucent bottle grows algae.
- Cover the openings: mosquitoes and debris both get in.
- Flush the line at the valve before the first use of the season.
- Drain below the valve before a hard freeze.
?Questions on this page
Do I need a pump?
Not always. Gravity from a raised tote gives about 0.43 psi per foot of height; check your drip kit’s rating.
Which tote is best for irrigation?
A sound rinsed or reconditioned tote with a known food-safe or water-only history.