Pumping water from lake 100' below for sprinkler system

[ultrarunner]

In a similar situation a small solar pump was used to pump water to a 2500 gallon tank... if the sun was out, the tank was being filled.

The tank was 30' above the irrigated area so a small booster pump was used at night to water...

Really worked well...

 

[BruceWard]

I am thinking that a 2 HP Gould IRRI-GATOR GT20 may be the pump for me IRRI-GATOR Model GT | Xylem Applied Water Systems - United States

The performance curve chart shows that it should pump more than 60 gpm up the hill.

 

[ultrarunner]

Sounds like it could be useful fighting fires too...

A seldom used work around here is when any part is used for firefighting...

I've seen water drawn from streams, ponds and swimming pools designated related for fire fighting...

 

[PILOON]

I have a few lake installations that pump 100 ft vertically with 300+ ft of run.
1/2 hp works just fine with 1" line. (1/2 hp 12 GPM)
My own system has pump suspended from my dock and uses 60 PSI control switch into pressure tank and pushes water another 200 ft back for watering gardens.
No lack of pressure or flow.
I filter using a pool filter with 100 mesh to remove particles that are suspended in the lake water. Generally clean filter 3-4 X/year.

 

[flusher]

In a similar situation a small solar pump was used to pump water to a 2500 gallon tank... if the sun was out, the tank was being filled.

The tank was 30' above the irrigated area so a small booster pump was used at night to water...

Really worked well...

That's the way to go. You can also pump water into a concrete cistern at night when power company rates are low. Then draw water out of the cistern any time you need to irrigate. That's the way the old almond orchard that previously was on my property was watered.

Good luck.

 

[BruceWard]

I have a few lake installations that pump 100 ft vertically with 300+ ft of run.
1/2 hp works just fine with 1" line. (1/2 hp 12 GPM)
My own system has pump suspended from my dock and uses 60 PSI control switch into pressure tank and pushes water another 200 ft back for watering gardens.
No lack of pressure or flow.
I filter using a pool filter with 100 mesh to remove particles that are suspended in the lake water. Generally clean filter 3-4 X/year.

What brand / model of pump did you use? Is there a reason that I would not want to use a larger pump?

 

[ns_in_tex]

We have a 1 hp pump that pumps from pond into tank at less than 10' elevation and pumps about 50 GPM with open flow. Then use a 2 hp pump to about 20 sprinkler heads on each station. Water in tank is above pump and most sprinklers. Pumps about 50 GPM and about 45 psi at pump and 30 psi at last sprinkler head.
We also have a 1 hp submersible in a well with 200' or more lift, will only pump 8 or 9 GPM.

 

[leonz]

From a qualified well driller and pump installer:

A 110 volt two pipe one inch jet pump with a large bladder tank(30 gallon+-) will solve all your issues and you will have plenty of water as long
as you hang a five gallon bucket with small water holes drilled in the side to keep the
foot valve from getting clogged.

As long as you have a 1 inch check valve to hold the water in the single pipe feeder line to keep it from
draining back you will be fine.

 

[leonz]

For NS in Texas:


It could be a number of things:

110 volt 110 volt two wire or
220 volt three wire single phase pump??


1. worn out/poor motor
2. plugged intake screen
3. worn pump vanes in the pump
4. check valve stuck open?
5. bad wiring/old pump wire

 

[PILOON]

What brand / model of pump did you use? Is there a reason that I would not want to use a larger pump?

Submerged pumps generally all use Franklin motors attached to the various manufacturers heads.(Jackussi Groundfoss etc) and the number of impellers make up the GPMs and lift capabilities.
The pump manufacturers have very detailed charts as to the specs of their pumps. (Lift GPM etc)
Google water well pumps should take you to manufacturers sites with all specs and graphs.

In my system I have a standard bladder tank installed as it is also my whole house system with the watering simply tied in. This way I have a constant 60 PSI at the sprinklers 200ft away uphill. I have run 3 sprinklers at a time no problem.

If you do use a submerged well pump be sure to cage it with large area of screening to prevent ingestion of debris* and try to have it as vertical as possible** as they are designed to be hung in the wells. A check valve is a must at the pump. (some have built in)
*Sand is the big enemy as it can destroy the impellers.
** We generally weld up a rack that positions the pump at about a 60 deg angle.

A pump can only pull one atmosphere (30 odd ft) but can push a whole lot more (depending on pressure).
Jet pumps pull 30 ft and then push back down via an injector to push water back up to higher 'lifts'.
Downside is the tricky primeing to get the system operating and the absolute need for no leakage at all and that is not counting of the double pipe runs needed.
Seasonal usage then calls for annual drainage and primeing.
Time has proven that the only sure drainage is to use a compressor to blow all lines clear and naturally that means re connecting all fittings every year.
For that reason all our lakeside dwellings now use submerged pumps.
My trick is to install a 'T' under water with a ball valve in the side leg so that when I open the valve gravity drains the system for me.
With all taps open in the house the down rush of water sucks the lines taps etc dry.
Naturally hot water and pressure tanks get drained as well.

Come spring simply closing that ball valve and power the pump and everything is good to go.