Shallow well/pump questions

GoldenMom · #1 05/01/10, 12:31 PM

I have an old shallow well out by my barn that I have used to water the livestock with. It's about 25' (currently the water is within 4-5' of the top of the well), about 24" in diameter and lined with bricks. It has a submersible pump that puts out water through a 1 1/2" PVC pipe. Recently the cover got damaged and at the same time one of the PVC pipe joints came undone (it almost looks like the people that put it in forgot to glue that joint). So I had to pull the pump. It looks quite a bit like a sump pump, with 1 1/2" PVC coming out of it and a float on one side (I can get pictures if needed). It has been in the well so long, I can't see any writing on it.

So here's my questions:
1. I'm definitely going to reattach the PVC and put the pump back in the well. Is there anything special I need to do to the pump and/or well? I don't see any "trash cage" or mesh to strain stuff before getting into the pump. I don't know what the bottom of the well is, but I suspect mud as it seemed pretty spongy when I was measuring it. Is some sort of filter recommended?

2. Would it damage a pump like that to hook it up to a sprinkler? Would it even have enough oomph? What about hooking it up to a garden hose with a nozzle on it-can you block the water coming out for a while without damaging the pump or does it need to constantly be draining water?

fishhead · #2 05/01/10, 12:39 PM

I've had a few of those on the farm. The ones I've had were pretty tough but I wouldn't let it run very long without discharging.

Yes it will have enough oomph to run a sprinkler unless it's worn out.

If it's run this long without a cage I wouldn't worry about it. I would attach a board or something underneath it for a base if you think the bottom is mud.

Harry Chickpea · #3 05/01/10, 12:46 PM

It likely IS a sump pump. Muck isn't an issue for sump pumps. Sand can wear out impellers, and in some situations a "trash" pump is needed to handle lager debris. You don't need to do anything to the pump, and I seriously doubt it would be damaged from stuff in a well.

I use sump pumps around here. I have one in a creek to pull water, once in a muddy trench to keep water from going under the house, and one in a kiddie pool that acts as a cheap cistern for the garden. As long as the water flow is not COMPLETELY stopped or the pump allowed to run dry, sump pumps can deal with a lot of abuse. Just leave the hose nozzle a little bit on and turn the pump off when you are through.

GoldenMom · #4 05/01/10, 03:05 PM

Thanks for the replies. Fishhead, you're right, it has run a long time just the way it was (we been there 7 years and it was there at least a while before we moved in). I guess they actually did *something* right around here ('bout the only thing!).

That's good news about the sprinkler, I'll have to try it. That well is WAY closer to the gardens.