Multi-use sprayer question

corey9212 · Jul 10, 2011

Hello I have a 3ph, 30 gal sprayer that I currently use to fill my horses water bucket (2 of them at 16 gal each) I also have an arena (174'x114') that has a weed and grass problem. I was told that a farming grade of round up will take care of it. My question is if I use the sprayer to spray the arena with the round up can I also use it to fill the water buckets? If not what do you recommend me using (water hose is out of the question cause it's 700' to the closest bucket.) Thanks

smstonypoint · Jul 10, 2011

This is a quote from a glyphosate (generic Roundup) label:

"DOMESTIC ANIMALS: This product is considered to be relatively nontoxic to dogs and other domestic animals; however, ingestion of this product or large amounts of freshly sprayed vegetation may result in temporary gastrointestinal irritation (vomiting, diarrhea, colic, etc.). If such symptoms are observed, provide the animal with plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration. Call a veterinarian if symptoms persist for more than 24 hours. "

Your plan shouldn't present any problems if you do a good job of cleaning the sprayer after spraying.

I see that you have a FEL. An alternative would be to acquire a food-grade barrel and fit same with a tap. You could then use gravity feed to fill the water buckets from your FEL.

Just my :2cents:.

Steve

RPW · Jul 10, 2011

I'd say no. Would want take the chance. You can find 275gal. food safe notes for less than $100. Use either your DEL or 3pt to haul.

teg · Jul 10, 2011

Do you like your horses? It's cheap for us to buy a used water tank for watering. I have tank for spraying herbicides and a different one for watering. We can get 55 gallon food grade barrels for pretty cheap.

corey9212 · Jul 10, 2011

The reason I ask is cause I have gotten mixed answers from different people. Some have said that roundup is harmless and that they have seen reps drink it to prove it. I have had others say it will kill anything. Other people also say as long as right after I fill it with bleach and water, run the aggitator for a couple hours then drain and rinse twice with clean water and It should be good. So I figured I would ask on here for ideas.

teg · Jul 10, 2011

You need to clean the sprayer anyway and it sounds like you do a good job of it.... and after you refill it with 30 gallons any residue would be extremely small... I can see you using it with no ill effects.

I don't think you need to agitate for a couple of hours...

blueriver · Jul 10, 2011

corey9212 said:
The reason I ask is cause I have gotten mixed answers from different people. Some have said that roundup is harmless and that they have seen reps drink it to prove it. I have had others say it will kill anything. Other people also say as long as right after I fill it with bleach and water, run the aggitator for a couple hours then drain and rinse twice with clean water and It should be good. So I figured I would ask on here for ideas.

Don't know if this will help ... I use my 3 point sprayer for everything ... (except water transfer)

I spray roundup ... rinse it out then spray the garden ... have yet to kill the garden, spray 2-4-D rinse it out and then spray the garden ... yet to kill the garden ... spray Grayzon ... rinse it out and then spray the garden ... yet to kill the garden.

corey9212 · Jul 10, 2011

teg said:
You need to clean the sprayer anyway and it sounds like you do a good job of it.... and after you refill it with 30 gallons any residue would be extremely small... I can see you using it with no ill effects.

I don't think you need to agitate for a couple of hours...

That's what I'm hoping cause I only spray twice a year and the it would take me half hour each time to spray so for one hour each year in total I am spraying, the rest of the time it is either filling watering buckets or used for dust control with straight water. It would suck having a $850 sprayer to only be used twice a year for only one hour.

blueriver said:
Don't know if this will help ... I use my 3 point sprayer for everything ... (except water transfer)

I spray roundup ... rinse it out then spray the garden ... have yet to kill the garden, spray 2-4-D rinse it out and then spray the garden ... yet to kill the garden ... spray Grayzon ... rinse it out and then spray the garden ... yet to kill the garden.

That's good, so good rinse right after is deffinately the key cause I get my roundup from my father-in-law who is a farmer and uses it for weed control in his huge sprayer before planting so it is a heavy duty heavily concentrated dose.

ayelvington · Jul 10, 2011

I'm just wondering why you didn't just go with a 55 gallon plastic barrel in your FEL to water your critters? Cheaper.

I strongly recommend that a sprayer be restricted to spraying and not for potable water.

For what it's worth, RoundUp has a very short life in water, and the standard dilution is pretty tame. Rinsing (NOT with bleach) with a real rinse agent would do the trick.

Have you talked with your vet yet? It would be interesting to hear their opinion since they will hand you the bill for a sick horse.

corey9212 · Jul 10, 2011

ayelvington said:
I'm just wondering why you didn't just go with a 55 gallon plastic barrel in your FEL to water your critters? Cheaper.

I strongly recommend that a sprayer be restricted to spraying and not for potable water.

For what it's worth, RoundUp has a very short life in water, and the standard dilution is pretty tame. Rinsing (NOT with bleach) with a real rinse agent would do the trick.

Have you talked with your vet yet? It would be interesting to hear their opinion since they will hand you the bill for a sick horse.

The reason for that is, I need to give them water in the winter and will have a snow blower attached to the front. Instead of the hastle of taking the blower off and on and same with the loader it's easier to buy a sprayer and haul water that way and using the agitator it won't freeze before it gets out there. I initially bought the sprayer for just water use but now found another need as well (the weeds) I actually am going to ask the vet when he has his next check-up. But I have to know (and a vet can't answer this) is if it is possible to safely use the sprayer for both.

teg · Jul 11, 2011

corey9212 said:
...if it is possible to safely use the sprayer for both.

It comes down to your definition of "safely"... it's how much risk is it worth vs. the extra cost of a clean sprayer. I would just take extra care in cleaning it.

Example of something completely different but use to make a point... If you used another chemical, 2,4D, in a sprayer and cleaned it really well after use... I mean REALLY well, and you were to spray cotton then next day with a fresh batch of roundup... for Roundup Ready Cotton... you WILL see damage because it takes so very little 2,4D to injure cotton! There will always be a little residue left behind. (this is mostly for older sprayers, with "age" *in* the hoses.)

KU Gator · Jul 11, 2011

I have a 55 gal. 3 pt sprayer, but the pump was not recommended to be used with Round-up/glyphosate. I guess it is fairly corrosive. Also I did not want to risk it dripping as I drove across the yard.

So I ended up buying a 15 gal. spot sprayer with an electric pump for I think $79. at Tractor supply. I set it in the bucket of my tractor. I could run it off the tractor battery, but I have a trolling battery that I set in the bucket also. Then I can either drive along and spray or if it an area with a fair amount of area that needs to be sprayed, I drive up to it and park and can walk about 15' either way from the bucket. The bucket acts a secondary containment so I have less risk of it dripping.

I am not a horse person, but personally would not use the same container to transport water that I used for weed spray. No matter who told me it was ok or how many times I rinsed it. If one gets sick, you will always wonder if there was a connection.

CBW1999 · Jul 11, 2011

A simple test to decide if you multi use it or not. ARE YOU WILLING TO DRINK THE SAME WATER- AS YOUR ONLY SOURCE OF HYDRATION?

I wouldn't risk it at all, even in the circumstances you are describing. Should anything ever happen to your horses, you might face cruelty allegations. Not worth the possibility.

I agree with the several posts that suggest a 55 gallon food grade barrel and gravity feed on a simple 3ph carry all will work the best for you.

dusty3030 · Jul 11, 2011

I agree with others and rig up a barrel or tank, better yet, have a water line run and buy a stock tank with a float valve. What happens when you aren't around to fetch water? How much fuel and time do you burn fetching water?

corey9212 · Jul 12, 2011

I will see how much I can get a food tank with valve around here and hopefully I can figure something out cause I don't have a carry all and my fabrication skills is....well....slowly building, lol. Anyone know where I can get some good plans for a 3 point carry all?
Thanks

BrianR · Jul 12, 2011

I use my sprayer on garden, driveway and yard, while spraying different herbicides. I have always double rinsed the tank and run water through the hoses and nozzles between rinses. Not once have I killed anything in the garden this way.

Even though it may not hurt the horses, I would use a separate food grade drum for water transfer as was suggested above. I wouldn't want to chance it. Around here if neighbors saw me watering animals with my sprayer, they would no doubt contact authorities to investigate.

Go to your nearest Pepsi or Coca-Cola bottler and see if you can get one of those syrup drums (55 gallon). They are food grade drums that are used for holding the acid/syrup mix for their sodas.

If no dice on a soda bottler, you can always order one through U.S. Plastics in Lima, OH.

CBW1999 · Jul 12, 2011

Check Craigs List in your area. Around here.....there are always food grade barrels for sale however- I wouldn't pay too much for them seeing as the people selling them USUALLY get them for free where they work!