Submersible pump in shallow well?

[Gunny]

This is a pretty good thermostat for using a light bulb or even a low wattage heater:

Amazon.com : Farm Innovators Model TC-3 Cold Weather Thermo Cube Thermostatically Controlled Outlet - On at 35-Degrees/Off at 45-Degrees : Electrical Multi Outlets : Patio, Lawn & Garden

I used one for years to keep a pump house from freezing, no problem unless the light bulb burned out. I learned to use a two bulb system, with one bulb in a screw in light sensor, then if the first bulb did burn out, the second bulb would come on.

 

[Egon]

You could go back in time with a rod pump and a pump Jack on the surface. Drill a hole in the tubing just above the pump to drain it all. Might have to add a sump for the pump to sit in.

This type of senario worked quite well for an awfull lot of folk in days past.

Add a wind mill and you can get rid of electricity too.

 

[briansanders]

I have a situation much like yours. Our pump is in an underground stream that can get below 16" at times. A regular pump won't work but we found one that is reversed so that it pumps at 4.5". See:
Sta-Rite - Sta-Rite 2DOM5121 STEP Plus D-Series High Head Submersible Effluent Pump 2 GPM .5 HP 115V 1PH 1' Cord #SRT2DOM5121

However, we also have a no load sensor that automatically shuts off the pump if there is no load (no water). It will then come back on automatically after a set amount of time (from 10 minutes to an hour). The prevents the pump from burning itself out if the well goes dry. This isn't cheap and it may be cheaper to go another route but it does work.

In your case, the depth of the well is much greater. You can use a powerful pump, unlike quicksandfarmer with a shallow well.