Preparing Your Property for Bulk Water Delivery: Here’s What You Need to Know

Water trucks are big, heavy, and need proper access. From clearing driveways to marking tanks, this essential guide ensures safe, smooth deliveries with no delays or damage. Includes our free prep checklist.

Exterior of modern comfortable cottage or house with front yard and small decorative trees along walls

When you need potable water for your home or jobsite, getting bulk water delivered can take a load off your mind. It can save the day, but it does require a bit of prep since water delivery trucks are large, heavy, and need more room to maneuver than a regular vehicle. 

This short guide covers what you need to do year-round so there are no delays, no damage, and no surprise costs for anyone.

Download the helpful checklist!

We’ve put together a handy water delivery prep checklist. It’s a quick way to double-check your residential or industrial site prep so your next delivery goes smoothly, no matter the season.

How to Prepare Your Property for Bulk Water Delivery

Make Room for the Big Truck

Water hauling trucks in a storage area

Bulk delivery trucks loaded with water are large and heavy. That means your driveway access needs to be wide enough, firm under the tires, and have enough clearance all the way around. 

Look Up! Trees and Branches

Low-hanging branches can scratch our stainless-steel tanks, making it hard to turn around. From spring to fall, regularly check for any limbs that have grown and are hanging over the road or driveway so the truck can pass through safely.  

Look Down! Roads and Paths

Child smiling on a farm path with family.

Keep the Path Clear

Make sure other vehicles, trailers, or farm equipment are parked well out of the way – both on the driveway in and in the path between the truck and the tank. 

Snowy driveways are tough to navigate in a heavy potable water hauler. Please make sure the road is fully plowed, including the surrounding area for turnaround space. Even a few inches of fresh snow can make maneuvering big, heavy loads dodgy and unsafe.

Salt or Sand Slippery Areas

Ice can make winter in Alberta treacherous. To keep everyone safe (and stop us all from sliding into a ditch), salt or sand any areas so traction can be maintained. To help, we offer sanding services for a small fee which is a great solution to keep steep or icy driveways safe. Just let us know when you book.

Know Your Driveway

Our trucks are built tough, but they’re also heavy. Soft ground, deep snow, or icy patches can cause us to get stuck. And if that happens? A tow truck for big rigs like water trucks could cost $1,000/hour. Let’s avoid that! Keep your driveway cleared and safe for heavy equipment.

Look All the Way Around!

Remove contaminants (like chemicals, hydrocarbons, or pet waste), and anything that could cause damage or get stuck under the truck.

For construction sites and industry clients, that includes tools, wheelbarrows and building materials.

For residential acreages and farms, that includes garden supplies, bikes and children’s toys. Keep children and pets safely inside or in a secure area during the delivery. We love animals, and even though yours are fun and friendly, we don’t want anyone distracted or hurt.

Easy Property Access

Aerial view of a farm surrounded by green fields.

If there’s a gate, please share the code when booking or make sure it’s unlocked.

Indoors or Outside? Let’s Talk Basement Tanks, Swimming Pools, Hot Tubs and Ice Rinks

We carry up to 100 feet of hose. If your tank, swimming pool, hot tub, or ice rink is farther away than that from where we can park, we’ll need extra hose. And we don’t carry that unless we know in advance.

If your tank is indoors or in the basement, someone needs to be present to watch the fill level. This helps avoid overflows and water damage.

If your potable water cistern is underground, have the stack clearly marked so it can’t be confused with a septic tank (not always as obvious as you’d think!). We can add one of our company stickers to the pipe for future deliveries. And you’ll have our contact info right there, too!

Your Questions—Answered

Only if the snow is extremely well packed and not icy. If our driver can’t access your tank without risking the truck getting stuck, delivery may need to be rescheduled until you can get the path cleared. Don’t risk a rescheduling fee. When in doubt, call to get the sanding truck dispatched. We want everyone to stay safe in the ice and snow!

We have a solution for that! Ask about our sanding truck service, available for a nominal charge to keep everyone safe and out of the ditch. It’s part of the customer service our clients have come to rely on across freeze/thaw cycles in Alberta. 

Booking is easy. Just give us a call or text at 780-818-1886 or fill out this form. Before delivery, we’ll go over property access, how far your pool or hot tub is located from your driveway, and anything else we need to know to make it stress-free for everyone. Please allow for 48-hours notice or more as this is the busiest time of year.

Just do your best to estimate. We’ll bring 100 feet of hose unless told otherwise. Let us know if you think more might be needed.

Only if your tank is indoors. Someone must be there to watch the water level and avoid overflow. For outdoor tanks, you don’t need to be home. Just make sure we have safe, easy access to where we need to go. 

If you’re a regular customer and your account is in good standing, we’ll do our best to get to you as soon as possible. Just give us a call. For new or one-time customers, an emergency dispatch fee applies.

Great question! Yes, we can – as long as it’s safe to do so. Our potable water trucks are built to withstand Alberta winters, but it’s the nature of the job that equipment can freeze up. We do our best, but when it’s really cold the delivery schedule slows down. We need to send the trucks indoors regularly so water lines and equipment can thaw out. We keep an eye on the weather and will let you know in advance if we think there’s going to be an interruption to your planned delivery. 

West Imperial Water Hauling is Your Trusted Bulk Water Delivery Service

A safe, chlorinated water supply should be the last thing you need to worry about. We’ve got you covered with a friendly, professional team ready to answer all of your questions.

Click here to request a free quote and let’s get your tank filled without the stress.

Download the helpful checklist!

We’ve put together a handy water delivery prep checklist. It’s a quick way to double-check your residential or industrial site prep so your next delivery goes smoothly, no matter the season.