Ideas for cheap well house

I have a 275 gallon ibc tote that I use to store water for my home demand pump and I intend to mount a jet pump next to it. I need a cheap method to build a structure that I can insulate a bit to keep this stuff protected from the elements and from freezing. I have access to poles onsite, and I may be able to get some free pallets. I also have access to free blandex/ particle board. I would like to build it big enough to store a few tools etc. in if I can do it cheap enough. 8 x 8 would be big enough. I don't even want to mess with a floor, just earth, or maybe put a little gravel down. Something simple.

Then again I could just put rigid insulation directly around the ibc tote fastened to the cage and maybe cover it with something. Not sure what I would do for the roof section though. And I could just build a small box around the jet pump. Those would probably be the cheapest and easiest routes so I'll probably do that for now and build a storage shed later.

Any input would be appreciated!

Where are you? How cold for how long do we have to deal with. How often do you refill the tank with "warm" water? Are you willing to run a light or small heater? (I am assuming you have power since you are talking about a jet pump).

1. Earth floor is GOOD. You want to dig around the base (like a foundation stem wall) and place insulation in there (helps tie the space into deep earth temp).

2. Any construction will work, use as much insulation as you can afford/find. 8x8 won't take much even if you buy new.

If you can, dig (auger) an approx. 2' dia. hole in the ground, as deep as possible. Place the tank over the hole and the heat rising from the ground will keep it from freezing. I've seen this work in some awful cold weather to keep livestock troughs ice free in winter. A roof and some sides will help too.

I am in Arkansas. According one web site we get around 60 days a year where the temperature goes below freezing. I will dig around the bases and insulate there. Interesting idea on digging a hole under the tank. Maybe I'll try that, though I don't have an auger.

What about ideas for just insulating the tank and building a box around the pump?

I talked to the water company and they said 18 inches is good enough for burying a water pipe

(whoops wrong thread)

Also, I decided to just insulate the tank and set up a de-icer in it instead of putting it inside a small building, that way I won't waste indoor space. I'm not going to need to bury the pipe after all because I have gone with a air lift pump and will simply hook up a hose to the well outlet and run it to the tank whenever I need it. There will be nothing left out to freeze and I won't have to deal with buying more pipe and burying it.