The Construction Site Water Problem
Construction sites are water-hungry environments. Concrete mixing and curing, dust suppression, equipment washdown, worker sanitation, and landscaping establishment all require reliable access to significant water volumes. Yet many job sites — particularly in rural areas, early phases of development, or locations with limited utility connections — lack a dependable piped water supply. The solution that contractors across the Intermountain West have converged on is simple: IBC totes.
A 275-gallon or 330-gallon IBC tote can be filled at a water source, transported to the job site on a flatbed or pickup-mounted rack, and positioned where it's needed. The gravity-feed design means no pump is required for most applications — the bottom valve and a short hose connection deliver water on demand. Multiple totes can be staged across a large site to minimize transport time between fills.
Concrete Production and Curing
Water quality and volume consistency are critical to concrete strength and durability. On sites where ready-mix trucks are not available or practical — remote locations, small pours, or repair work — contractors batch their own concrete using portable mixers. An IBC tote provides a consistent, measurable water supply that simplifies mix design and quality control.
For curing poured concrete, water must be applied repeatedly over a 7–28 day period to prevent premature drying and cracking. IBC totes staged near pours provide the sustained water supply needed without requiring daily water deliveries. In Utah's arid climate, where evaporation rates are high and ambient humidity is low, adequate curing water is especially important for achieving design strength.
Best practices for concrete water supply from IBC totes:
- Use totes previously used for potable water or food-grade applications only — concrete mix water should be clean and free of oils, chemicals, or biological contamination
- Position totes at elevated grade when possible to improve gravity-feed flow rate
- Use a flow meter inline to accurately measure water volume added to each batch
- Inspect and flush totes before each use to remove sediment that could affect mix water quality
Dust Suppression
Construction sites generate significant fugitive dust from grading, excavation, material handling, and vehicle traffic on unpaved surfaces. Beyond the nuisance to neighbors, this dust can create regulatory compliance issues. Most state and local air quality rules require construction sites above a certain acreage or disturbance threshold to implement a dust control plan, with water application as the most common control measure.
IBC totes connected to a water truck or portable spray rig provide an efficient dust suppression supply. Some contractors mount IBC totes directly on flatbed trucks with a small 12V or gas-powered pump and a rear spray bar for mobile dust control across the site. This approach is far more cost-effective than renting a dedicated water truck for dust control alone.
For sites using chemical dust suppressants (calcium chloride, polymer-based binders), IBC totes serve double duty as both mixing vessels and application tanks. Diluting concentrated suppressant in an IBC tote ensures consistent concentration and reduces the risk of over-application that can damage surrounding vegetation.
Equipment and Concrete Washout
Concrete mixer trucks and pump trucks require washout at the end of each pour. This washout water is highly alkaline (pH 11–13) and contains suspended concrete solids — it cannot be discharged to storm drains, streams, or on the ground without compliance violations under the Clean Water Act's National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) program.
IBC totes serve as portable concrete washout containment vessels. A 275-gallon tote can accept the washout from one to two mixer drum cleanings before requiring pump-out to a proper disposal facility. Labeling the tote "CONCRETE WASHOUT — DO NOT DISCHARGE" and placing it in a secondary containment area satisfies most NPDES Construction General Permit washout containment requirements.
Under Utah's NPDES Construction General Permit, concrete washout containers must be located at least 50 feet from storm drain inlets and surface waters, and must be emptied or replaced before reaching capacity. IBC totes are an ideal size for most small to mid-size pour operations.
SWPPP Stormwater Compliance
A Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan (SWPPP) is required for construction sites disturbing one or more acres. The SWPPP mandates a range of best management practices (BMPs) to prevent construction pollutants from reaching stormwater. Beyond concrete washout, IBC totes contribute to SWPPP compliance in several ways:
- Secondary containment for fuel, oil, and chemical storage IBCs prevents spills from reaching stormwater conveyances
- Sediment-laden water pumped from excavations can be temporarily stored in IBC totes and allowed to settle before discharge
- Portable dewatering operations can use IBC totes as settling chambers prior to discharge through filter bags
- Chemical storage IBCs with proper labeling and containment satisfy SWPPP material management requirements
Chemical Storage on Job Sites
Construction sites use a wide range of chemical products that benefit from IBC-scale storage: form release agents, curing compounds, joint sealants, cleaning solutions, and fuel for generators and equipment. IBC totes sized appropriately for site consumption rates reduce the frequency of supply deliveries and lower per-unit chemical costs through bulk purchasing.
For petroleum products (diesel, gasoline, hydraulic fluid), ensure IBC totes are rated for flammable liquid storage and are positioned within appropriate setback distances from ignition sources and site boundaries per NFPA and local fire codes. Secondary containment — either a bermed gravel area or a purpose-built spill pallet — is required for petroleum storage IBCs on most job sites.
Sourcing Construction-Grade IBCs in Utah
For construction applications where food-grade history is not required, reconditioned IBC totes offer excellent value. A clean, structurally sound reconditioned tote at $75–$150 delivers the same functional performance as a new container for water storage, dust suppression, or chemical secondary containment. Salt Lake IBC supplies contractors throughout Utah and the surrounding region with reconditioned containers available for pickup or delivery — contact us to discuss volume pricing for large project needs.