Non-electric well pump for 60 ft well

[VT Chicklit]

I am looking for suggestions from people who have figured out how to pump water from a moderately shallow well without the help of electricity. My well is 57 feet deep. I currently have an electric well pump and holding tank that do the job under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, last year we had severe winds blow through our area and one half of our town was devistated by downed trees on houses, vehicles and electric poles/wires. We were without electricity for 3 days, but many in our town were without it for almost a week.

We have a generator and panel board so that we can run various items like refridgerator, freezer, one kitchen outlet and light and the furnace and well. We realised during our mini "disaster" that the generator was a good solution for short term power outages, but because of the gas that would be needed, we needed a solution for accessing our well if there were a long term outage, or worse. I have seen hand cranked pumps that were not for water and pitcher pumps that were for wells that were 25 feet deep or less. I have been unable to find a pump to fit my situation.

When my well was drilled, we hit water at 57 feet. I do not know if the water has filled our well higher or lower than that point currently. I also need info regarding opening my well pipe. I do not know if we loose "prime" if the well pipe cover is opened or if I will cause other problems by opening it. Can any tell me this? I need suggestions for a hand pump that is rugged and that can do the job reliably. I guess I need help from you all before I can even get started.

[foxfiredidit]

check this one out. you can place it along side your existing pump. It will pump from 300 ft. It will put the water into your pressure tank so you can still run your household off your conventional setup even without the electricity.

www.survivalunlimited.com/deepwellpump.htm

[Cabin Fever]

The type of hand pump that we have can pump water as deep as 200 feet. It does not require priming and will work all winter long.

[Windy in Kansas]

Unless you get a combination pump as foxfiredidit told about an excellent way to pump water is with a well cylinder connected to a windmill or at least a hand pump.

If you go the latter route the existing pump will in all likelihood need to come out, especially if it is a drilled well rather than hand dug. These two sites should be able to guide you as to what you will need, i.e. windmill OR pumpjack with small gasoline engine or electric motor, OR a handpump. Either of these connects to the well cylinder with pipe which has connecting rods inside which connect to the plunger in the cylinder. For installation getting the lengths of pipe and connecting rods the proper length is key.
http://www.windmill702.com/
http://www.windmillhelp.com/
Lehman's Hardware in Kidron, Ohio also sells all of the necessary items for pumping via wind or hand or with a pumpjack.

If you use a pumpjack you can disconnect it for hand pumping if set up properly and with little effort. Pumping from that depth isn't too difficult but not real difficult depending somewhat upon the size of cylinder and water pumping capacity per stroke. The larger the bore and stroke of the cylinder the harder it is to pump because of flow.

Make sure to install the pump over the well correctly to ensure a sanitary seal.
This photo shows the pump over the well with a pumpjack installed. One need not remove the pumpjack to pump by hand, only disconnect it. Pumpjacks pump rather efficiently via gas engine or electric motor. Expect you might even rig a homemade Savonius rotor to pump with if geared high enough.

[VT Chicklit]

Thanks for the information on several great options.