6 Best Utility Pumps For Draining A Stock Tank Old Farmers Swear By

There’s nothing worse than staring at a stock tank full of green, scummy water, knowing you have to drain it with a bucket or by pulling the plug and making a muddy mess. A good utility pump turns a dreaded, back-breaking chore into a quick, manageable task. Choosing the right one means less time wrestling with hoses and more time on things that actually matter on the farm.

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Choosing a Reliable Stock Tank Utility Pump

A utility pump isn’t a glamorous tool, but a dependable one is worth its weight in gold. The first thing people look at is gallons per hour (GPH), but that number can be misleading. A pump’s real-world performance depends just as much on its "head height"—the maximum vertical distance it can push water—so if you’re draining a tank and sending the water uphill to your garden, a pump with a higher head height is non-negotiable.

Think about what you’re pumping. If your tank is relatively clean, most standard utility pumps will do the job. But if you’re dealing with a soupy mix of algae, hay bits, and muck, you need a pump that can handle some solids without clogging every five minutes. A cheap pump with a tiny intake screen will just cause frustration.

Finally, consider where you’ll be using it. A long power cord is a simple feature that makes a world of difference when your nearest outlet is on the side of the barn. For tanks in a far pasture, a cordless, battery-powered model might be the only practical solution, even if it means sacrificing some raw power. It’s all about matching the tool to the specific job at hand.

Wayne WaterBUG: Top Pick for Fast Draining

The Wayne WaterBUG stands out for one primary reason: it drains water down to almost nothing. Its top and side intake design allows it to pull water down to 1/16 of an inch, which means less manual scooping and sponging to get the tank truly empty for a scrub. This makes the final clean-out significantly faster.

This pump is a "multi-flo" unit, meaning you can connect the hose to the top or the side. Using the side discharge when the pump is sitting flat in the tank is perfect for getting that last bit of water out. It moves a surprising amount of water for its size, making quick work of 100-gallon tanks.

The trade-off is its construction. It’s mostly a high-impact thermoplastic, which is durable enough for most uses but won’t tolerate being tossed around like a cast-iron pump. It’s best for water that’s murky but not full of heavy debris like gravel or sticks, as the intake screen is designed for high flow, not filtering out junk. For a fast, nearly complete drain of typical stock tanks, this is the one to beat.

Superior Pump 91250: A Durable Workhorse

When you just need a pump that works every single time you plug it in, the Superior Pump 91250 is a classic choice. Built with a cast iron base and thermoplastic housing, it has the heft and durability to handle the bumps and scrapes of farm life. This isn’t a delicate piece of equipment; it’s a tool meant to be used.

Its power is its main selling point. With a 1/4 HP motor, it moves water quickly and can push it a good distance, easily handling the task of emptying a large tank and sending the water away from your work area. The intake screen is robust and can handle some small debris like leaves and bits of hay without immediately quitting on you.

The downside is that it won’t drain a tank as completely as the WaterBUG, typically leaving about an inch of water at the bottom. This means you’ll still have some bailing to do before you can scrub. But for pure, reliable water removal from a full tank, its simple, rugged design is hard to argue with. It’s the dependable truck of utility pumps.

Little Giant 5-MSP: Compact Power for Small Tanks

Don’t let the small size fool you; the Little Giant 5-MSP is a surprisingly capable pump. Its compact design makes it perfect for smaller troughs, 55-gallon drums, or any tight space where a larger pump just won’t fit. It’s also incredibly easy to store and carry around the property.

This pump is known for its reliability, largely due to its epoxy-coated cast aluminum housing that resists corrosion and dissipates heat well. This means it can run for extended periods without overheating, which is crucial when you get distracted by another farm chore mid-pump. It’s a true utility player, useful for more than just stock tanks.

While powerful for its size, it is still a smaller pump. It will take longer to empty a 300-gallon tank than a larger 1/2 HP model, and its intake screen is best suited for cleaner water. But for anyone with smaller livestock and correspondingly smaller water troughs, the Little Giant offers the perfect balance of power, durability, and portability.

Tsurumi LB-480: Handles Debris and Sludge

If your stock tank looks more like a pond bottom by cleaning day, the Tsurumi LB-480 is the pump you need. This is a semi-trash pump designed for contractors, but it has found a home on farms for one key reason: it barely clogs. It can handle sand, sludge, and solids up to 1/4 inch without a problem.

The secret is in its design. The urethane rubber impeller and agitator are incredibly tough and help stir up settled solids to be pumped out with the water. This means you’re not just removing the water; you’re removing a lot of the muck at the bottom, saving you a ton of scooping and scraping later. It’s a true work-saver.

Of course, this level of performance comes at a higher price. It’s an investment, not an impulse buy from the local hardware store. But if you have multiple large tanks or constantly fight with algae and settled feed turning into sludge, the time and frustration this pump saves can easily justify the cost. It turns a nasty job into a straightforward one.

Greenworks 40V Cordless: For Off-Grid Tanks

The biggest limitation of most pumps is the power cord. For that one stock tank in the back pasture, running hundreds of feet of extension cord is impractical and unsafe. The Greenworks 40V Cordless Utility Pump solves this problem completely.

Running on the same 40V battery as their other tools, this pump gives you total freedom. You can drop it in a tank anywhere on your property and drain it without a second thought. It’s surprisingly powerful for a battery-operated unit, capable of moving a decent volume of water for its 30-minute runtime on a 2Ah battery.

The limitations are what you’d expect. It’s not as powerful as a corded model, and you’re limited by battery life, so having a spare battery is a good idea for larger jobs. But the sheer convenience of being untethered from an outlet is a game-changer for many small farm setups. It’s a problem-solver for a very common rural challenge.

CountyLine 1/2 HP: A Simple Transfer Pump

Sometimes you don’t need a submersible pump; you just need to move water. The CountyLine 1/2 HP Transfer Pump is a non-submersible unit that does one job well: transferring water from one place to another using attached hoses. You place the pump on dry ground, run an intake hose into the tank, and an outlet hose where you want the water to go.

This design has its advantages. You’re not dropping an electrical device into the water, which some people prefer. It’s also great for pulling water out of shallow sources or moving water between tanks. With its 1/2 HP motor, it has plenty of power to push water over long distances or up a slight incline.

The main drawback is the setup. You have to prime the pump (fill the pump head and intake hose with water) before it will work, which can be a bit fussy. It’s also not ideal for draining a tank completely, as the intake hose will start sucking air once the water level gets low. But for simple, high-volume water transfer on a budget, it’s a solid, no-frills option.

Key Features to Look for in a Utility Pump

Beyond the specific models, a few key features separate a great pump from a frustrating one. Understanding them helps you choose wisely, no matter the brand.

First is the construction material. Pumps made with cast iron or cast aluminum are heavier and more durable, resisting dings and dissipating heat better. Thermoplastic pumps are lighter, won’t rust, and are often more affordable, but they can be more susceptible to cracking if dropped or frozen.

Next, look at the intake design. A bottom-suction pump with a well-designed screen will drain a tank nearly dry. A pump with a top-suction design is less likely to clog from bottom sludge but will leave more water behind. Some, like the WaterBUG, offer both.

Finally, don’t overlook the practical details:

• Cord Length: A 25-foot cord is infinitely more useful than a 10-foot one.
• Hose Connection: Ensure it fits a standard garden hose or has an adapter. A solid, threaded connection is better than a flimsy plastic one.
• Portability: A built-in handle makes a heavy cast-iron pump much easier to manage.

Thinking through these features in the context of your own farm—your tank locations, your water quality, and your budget—is the surest way to get a tool that makes your life easier, not harder.

Ultimately, the best pump is the one that fits your specific situation, turning a recurring chore into a minor task. Investing in the right tool saves you time, saves your back, and lets you get back to enjoying your farm. Don’t just buy a pump; buy a solution to a problem.