Question about water well

[TC]

We have a well that requires electricity, of course, to run. I believe it is dug about 250 feet. Anyway, if a EOTWAWKI situation hit, is there any way to get water from it manually?

Sorry if this is the dumbest question you have ever heard. Just enjoy the laugh at me!

[Cheryl in SD]

Not dumb at all. Yes, there are ways to get water from it. I am glad you are thinking about it NOW. After the power goes out it is too late.
Below is one way to do this.

Oasis Deep Well Pump

[Wildwood]

Here is a plan I am saving just in case. I'd love to buy one like Cheryl listed but til I get the funds together for that, this may work.


http://www.millennium-ark.net/News_F...Hand_Pump.html

[Cyngbaeld]

First thing to do is find out what the static water level is in the well. You need to know that before deciding what kind of pump is needed.

[Sonshine]

Worse case scenario, get some pvc pipe that will fit down your well. Plug the bottom end with cement for weight. Drill holes in the top to put rope or chain on, then drop it down in the well just like they use to do with the old buckets. Might not get much at a time, but if worse came to worse you would be able to get something out of it.

[unregistered29228]

Would it be possible to siphon water from a well? My water storage barrels are accessed by a hand pump siphon, and it makes sense that it would work in a well too. You get the flow going by pumping and then suction keeps it flowing.

Thanks for the link to that inexpensive hand pump! We haven't been able to afford a real hand pump and this would work for our well.

[ceresone]

Our well is over 600' deep, I figure I'm SOL

[wvstuck]

Secondary storage is something I am considering (as well as a hand pump for a deep well) A couple of 2000 gallon water tanks buried near the house that can be kept full during the good times, then an affordable shallow well hand pump could draw the water when needed during an emergency. This fall my plans also include burying a large water tank in my garden, with rainwater from the barn and house going into this tank year round, then I'll have a great source of water for my garden.

[BTO]

Put a deep well hand pump in parallel with your electric pump. I have one and they work great. It doesn't freeze in the winter and provides us with emergency drinking water from our 300' artesion well!

http://www.bisonpumps.com/

[Michael Kawalek]

We have a 450' deep well, but the static water level is only 70 feet. We use a 240V electric pump that is powered by a generator to get our water. As water is pumped out of the well, it goes up the hill to a holding tank, then it can flow back to the cabin by gravity when the generator is shut off.

Your cheapest solution is just buy a standby generator that can power the well when your power goes off. For one that is only to be used intermitantly instead of daily/weekly/monthly a generator that runs on propane rather than gasoline will be better because gasoline gradually goes bad. You would have to find out the current draw of your pump, but I would guess a 5KW generator would power it fine. Of course, if the power is off, you'd want generator power for other things, like the refrigerator and lights, so size your generator accordingly.

You have other options, like solar water pumping, but that will require a holding tank because the flow is very slow over the course of the whole day. A siphon pump will only lift water a maximum of 32 feet (1 atmosphere). Water deeper than 32 feet down must be PUSHED up, not pulled up. That's why the pump is at the bottom of the well. A hand pump would work to, but I really don't want to have to resort to that unless I'm desperate.
Michael

[7.62mmFMJ]

Those plastic deep-well pumps worry me. If you are going to all the trouble to put one in, put in a stainless, rugged version - cause you never know how long and emergency will last.

I have this one sitting in boxes ready to install. Waiting for warmer weather. This is about 70% of the cost of a Bison Pump.

http://www.survivalunlimited.com/wat...ppricelist.htm

[Cyngbaeld]

Originally Posted by Sonshine

Worse case scenario, get some pvc pipe that will fit down your well. Plug the bottom end with cement for weight. Drill holes in the top to put rope or chain on, then drop it down in the well just like they use to do with the old buckets. Might not get much at a time, but if worse came to worse you would be able to get something out of it.

http://www.envisupply.com/equipment/bailers-sales.htm

These are not expensive and have a foot valve. If the well is deep you may want to put a pulley over the well to reduce back strain. You can also use a pulley an an animal (dog, horse, goat, pony, cow etc) to do the pulling for you if you are needing a lot of water to care for animals and people.

[BTO]

Originally Posted by 7.62mmFMJ

Those plastic deep-well pumps worry me. If you are going to all the trouble to put one in, put in a stainless, rugged version - cause you never know how long and emergency will last.

I have this one sitting in boxes ready to install. Waiting for warmer weather. This is about 70% of the cost of a Bison Pump.

http://www.survivalunlimited.com/wat...ppricelist.htm

Its been my experience that you get what you pay for. I'd like to hear your reviews when you get it working. I liked the price on their well cap vs Bison. I hope it works for you. I'm going to put in another well and will be in the market for another pump in the future. I'd like to pay less as long as the quality is there.

[7.62mmFMJ]

Will do.

I am hoping I don't have to post a bunch of $#@*&%%@#s

[TC]

Thank ya'll very much