Another water well situation.

[stumpfield]

Shouldn't be too difficult to lower it to 80'. I would probably gain about 7 gallons of storage. I wonder why the pump was 9' off the bottom. I just assumed it was because of sediment build up. I noticed in most well reports that the pump was generally 10' from the bottom of the well. Why is that?

10' is just standard practice. I guess that's a safe distance from the bottom. For most wells with 100+ feet between the pump and the static water level, it doesn't really matter. But in your case, every foot counts. Not just for more storage but to get the well to start the recovery quicker.

 

[Jimbrown]

I still say that a storage tank like one of these - Plastic-Mart - a 500 gallon one is less than $500. and a smart pump controller will fix your problem. Set the controller to pump for 5 min and then set for 20 or 30 min and then pump for 5 min. You could fill the storage tank in less than a day and then have 500 gallons to play with, Far more than you are getting now. The draw down on your well will be less than trying to fill your pressure tank using your current setup. A new well plus the cost of moving or installing a new pump is going to be more than this. Even if you use the same pump in the new well you will probably have to replace the wire,pipe and safty rope. Unless your current pump has some sort of run dry safety on it it must be running dry and/or pumping air half the time. If so I suprised it works at all.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Shouldn't be too difficult to lower it to 80'. I would probably gain about 7 gallons of storage. I wonder why the pump was 9' off the bottom. I just assumed it was because of sediment build up. I noticed in most well reports that the pump was generally 10' from the bottom of the well. Why is that?

There may not be a good reason other than when ya got it flaunt it. With your limited head I would use all you have. Drop it to the bottom and raise it a couple inches. Sediment accumulates slowly. Let the pump pump it out, Youll probably get colored water for a few days as the new part of the well is exercised. Use it top to bottom and be patient. This may actually increase the delivery rate of your well over time as underground flow chanels are exercised. You can pull it back up easily if it turns out to be necessary.
larry

 

[MDM]

Unless your current pump has some sort of run dry safety on it it must be running dry and/or pumping air half the time. If so I suprised it works at all.

I have a low pressure switch inline before my pressure tank. Pump shuts off when the pressure gets low.

 

[MDM]

The more I think about this, the more confused I get. I have a storage tank as mentioned above sitting in my garage. What would be the difference if I just cracked a garden hose to this tank and let it trickle in at a rate of say .5 gpm and using a smart pump? If I pump my well dry at .5 gpm, what is the benifit of a smart pump pumping in 30 gph? Won't the well still go dry by pumping the same amount per hour?

I see the benefit of dropping my pump to the bottom of the well for short term fix. I'm just thinking long term here, but I know my water consumtion is going to go up over the next 10 years or so. We have a 3yr old girl and I'm afraid to think of those long showers she will want to take when she hits high school. We might have another little one yet, and if it turns out to be another girl I will definately be SOL.

 

[tommu56]

I would use your present tank to check out system.
use a measured container to get the 0.5 gpm or use a 5 gallon bucket and 10 minuets and see how it work on your cellar tank.

Now for the Girls issue after raising 3 daughters and one son and the wife I came close to putting coin operated shower in (like at some camp grounds) but we came up with a schedule (oh yea one bathroom too) and if you missed your time you went to the back of the line.

tommu56

 

[marimus]

It just blows my mind you guys having wells hundreds of feet deep. It must have something to do with the geology in my area (East Central Ohio).

Offtopic I know, but some of you guys might find this interesting.

Here in australia, we have something called the Great Artesian Basin. Its the largest artesian basin in the world. The average well depth to access it is 500m, with some upto 2km deep.

Thats over 1600 feet for the average, and upto 6500 feet.

Great Artesian Basin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Great Artesian Basin

 

[Bill Barrett]

some of the grundfus (SQ series I think) pumps have a low water cut out built in to the pump and will not restart for 20 or 30 minuets after it is above cutout level

stumpfield has one in his well check with him

tommu56

+1 then do the holding tank, don't forget get NSF rated tank, and keep on top of your water quaility. Sorry I didn't read all of the threads but is this a problem in your area, or do you just have a problem well?