Wells and boreholes, merged topic.

[emordnilap]

I asked many moons ago about this but now can't find the thread. Not only that, I never followed up on my plan so here goes again, thinking newer cheaper technology may have come to the fore in recent years.

I have a 130' deep well for water, the submersible pump filling a pressure tank at the well head. I am now thinking about what to do for water in a power cut. I have plenty of drinkable water stored but I'm now considering alternatives to mains pumping.

Ideas, please, people.

[adam2]

I have merged this enquiry with the older thread.

[adam2]

Hand operated pumps do exist for deep wells but are rather expensive.
Note that no lift pump can raise water from that depth.
Deep well hand pumps have the pump mechanism located down the well and operated from ground level by rodding.
Therefore the whole length of the rod must be lifted with each stroke, the weight can be off set with a counterbalance but nothing can be done about the friction.

Rotary deep well pumps exist, these require the shaft to be turned, not lifted. Usually worked by a petrol engine, but electric power, or a diesel engine are alternatives. In theory human power could be used but this is hard work. Convict labour has been used.

I would favour a standby source of electricity for the existing pump, and preferably a spare pump also.

[emordnilap]

There was an older thread than than, no matter.

I was wondering about a solar panel, batteries and a low-voltage deep well pump. From 130' down, is that too much to ask into a pressure tank?

[adam2]

12 volt and 24 volt deep well pumps certainly exist, but tend to have a rather limited flow rate. If much use is expected then allow for plenty battery capacity and charging input.

If pumping into a pressure tank, then obtain a pump with a sufficient discharge pressure to achieve this, or alternatively a pump rated for a deeper well than yours, so as to allow for pumping into a pressure tank.

[Catweazle]

Can you run your existing submerged pump from an inverter / battery ? That might be the simplest option in the event of a power cut.

[emordnilap]

Can you run your existing submerged pump from an inverter / battery ? That might be the simplest option in the event of a power cut.

Yes, I could, though I suspect I'd need quite a large battery array. This is what you might call a short- or medium term solution and probably the best for when supply starts to get erratic but not non-existent.

[adam2]

A local farm has just had a new borehole drilled. Done in one day by a large and expensive looking machine. The cows were fascinated by the work, they obviously understood that it was for their benefit.

The water initially produced was muddy and tasted bad, but improved after pumping for 24 hours. It is now crystal clear but with a strong mineral flavour. Fit for human drinking water but intended for cows. The animals prefer it to mains water.

The farm already had two boreholes, but one has gone to salt, and the other dries up in prolonged dry weather.

[cubes]

Is it possible the government may restrict drawing from private boreholes if things get too bad?