Need advice for well pump...

kebo · Jul 26, 2009

My folks have a well on their property and I want to see about fixing it up to use for watering a garden next year. I believe the well was hand dug as it's only about 22ft deep, and probably about 2 1/2ft in diameter. It's capped off with a big round concrete pipe (also about 30" dia) with a big heavy concrete lid on top of that. There is a 3 or 4 inch diameter hole in the center of the lid.

Question is what be the best/easiest/cheapest way to pump water out?? A submersible pump? Or an above ground pump? I have no clue how deep the water in the well is at this point, I've only tried to measure how far down the water is (yes you can see water down in the well now)

I realize I will need to run AC to it, that's not a problem as it's ony about 30ft from their house. This will only be used to water a local water system for their house water.

Any other comments would be appreciated.
Thanks!

cowboy357 · Jul 26, 2009

You really need to find out how deep it is , & have the water tested to make sure its safe for even gardening . then You can make sure it has an ample water supply so not to burn up the pump . I would use a temporary test pump first just to be on the safe side .

If it looks like a good well with plenty of water, The next do you want to build an insulated well house to protect the pump when freezing ? Best bet would be to trench a line from the house to the well , use a submersable pump & run your line from it below the freeze line to where You need the water . Put in a freeze Spicket ( hydrant ) that will come up to where You need it , it has a valve below ground when shut off the water drains back below the freeze line .

You will still need a preasure switch & bladder tank but that could be plumbed in the house or a shelter close to it .

Thats just my opinion . I am far from an expert . but thats what I do . Hopefully someone that knows what their doing will comment . best of luck. Bob

MikeInEburg · Jul 26, 2009

Submerged pump will always work better - pumps push better than they pull. If the use were truly for irrigation, you could pass on much of the hardware - hook a hose to the pump and drop it in the well. When you want water, apply power to the pump. At the end of the season, pull it out to prevent freezing. You REALLY want to spend a couple of dollars on an anti-siphon valve - to be sure that nothing toxic is draining back into the groundwater. And somehow be sure no one falls into the well.

Mike

Jimbrown · Jul 26, 2009

Heck just go buy the cheapest jet pump you can find. Set it right on top of the well cap and run the jet foot down 10 or 15 ft into the water and have at it.

You can drain it in the winter if it gets that cold there.

Search Results for jet pump

kebo · Jul 26, 2009

Thanks for the replies so far, you all have given me some things to consider.

I reread my original post and realized I goofed up that last part of it. My folks are on a local water system, so they get all their pottable water that way. The only use of the well would be to irrigate a garden. I will NOT be tying the well water into the house water in any way.

The temps in SC are typically about 30-32deg in the morning, seldom do we see temps in the 20's even more seldom in the teens or single digits. Mike's suggestion to pull the pump out after the garden is plowed under is appealing to me. That way I just wouldn't have to worry about it freezing.

Thanks again.
Keith

Uncle Doug · Jul 27, 2009

I have used one of those small electric sump pumps to help pump down my inground pool sometimes. It does pump a high volume of water and has a 1 1/2" discharge. I added a 10 foot section of PVC pipe on the outlet as my pool is 8 foot on the deep end. It also has a float switch that will shut it off if the water level drops to the pump level. The pump only came with a 8 foot electric cord. To ensure the plug remains above the water I secured (taped) the cord to the discharge pipe and always place it in the shallow end of the pool first.

You should be able to let gravity carry the water over to the garden. You may need to invest in enough PVC pipe to reach the garden.

PILOON · Jul 27, 2009

IMHO a submergable is the way to go!
- won't freeze down in the well as it is below ground.
- never need to prime as it 'pushes' water rather than suck.
- all told very close to price of jet pumps, without the hassels.

For complete freeze free operation you could always mount the pressure tank on a shelf below the well lid and if concerned the well lid could be covered with a slab of foam insulation.

Another method I have used is to install a 'T' with a ball valve below water level so that opening the valve lets the lines drain via gravity.
(you open all valves B4 cracking the drain valve and gravity does the rest)

Never have I seen a well freeze up if it is covered, and around here we have temps go to -30's

With a submergable, be sure to mount it off of the bottom (like sitting on a block or on a cradle) to prevent sucking silt/rocks etc.

Mickey_Fx · Jul 27, 2009

Jimbrown said:
Heck just go buy the cheapest jet pump you can find. Set it right on top of the well cap and run the jet foot down 10 or 15 ft into the water and have at it.

You can drain it in the winter if it gets that cold there.

Search Results for jet pump

Based on info given, I had to agree with this position. A 1/2 HP jet pump on a 20' well will pump all the water you need to water the garden.

I have a second shallow well ~50' and had a jet pump on it for years. Did the job well.

Harbor Freight has several models that would get the job done for a bout $100. Can't even think about a submersible for that kind of price.

Wouldn't overlook checking on a use jet pump to begin with. In addition to needing to know water qlty you need to know what happens to water level as you pump and summer decline in static water level.