Pump House Project

Well: I have a 232' deep artesian well. The well static (no flow) pressure is always around 40 psi. The open (no pressure) flow rate is about 2 gal per minute.

Well Head: The submersion pump (at 200') delivers water to a 50 gal pressure tank in the current pump-house. This system delivers about 5 gals per minute to a wide-open faucet.

Treatment: The well water is super soft with almost no detectable particulates and is ready to drink as it comes out of the ground. However, it smells like rotten eggs because of the hydrogen sulfide content. To remove the hydrogen sulfide a measured amount of chlorine in injected into the water as it exits the pressure tank (amount based on the flow rate). The treated water then goes to the bottom of a 120 gal holding tank (providing time for chlorine to act). Water from the top of the holding tank flows through a large activated carbon filter (to remove the precipitated solids and any residual chlorine) before being distributed for use.

Distribution: Years ago I dug a utilities trench between all my buildings and included 2 independent water distribution systems. One (treated) for all inside uses and one (untreated) for all outside faucets. (Currently the 2 distribution systems are tied together and both deliver treated water).

Big Tank: I have a 15,000 gallon water tank which we got for "free" (it cost over $1,500 to transport and position on my property). Its purpose is irrigation and firefighting. It has a 2" valve & connection for a fire pumper truck, 6" valve & outlet for draining, and a pair of 1-1/2" valves for gravity feeding an irrigation soaker line.

Problem 1: The well is capped. The natural flow rate of the well is only 2 gallons per minute, but the in-well pump can sustain over 5 gallons per minute which creates a negative pressure and "pulls" water from the ground rather than letting it flow naturally. If we let it run at 5 gpm for about 1/2 hour the water silts-up, turns from clear to grey, and takes a week to clear up again.

Problem 2: The current pump-house is too small for its present content, restricting my access to maintain the system (let alone respond to an equipment failure or other problem if I were to have one) and no room for the new system components I want to add.

Problem 3: The current pump-house has leaky roof and is falling apart. Squirrels have ripped out what little insulation there was.

• Artesian well pressure will be used at a low flow rate (max 1.5 gal/min) to keep 2 holding tanks full. (the current 15,000 gallon tank and a new 500 gal tank to be located in the new pump-house).
• A new above ground AC pump will draw water from the 500 gal holding tank via 1-1/2" line and feed the pressure tank and existing treatment system (which will be relocated to the new pumphouse). This will serve the "inside distribution system" with treated water. But could also serve the "outside distribution system" via the existing cross-tie valve.
• Another new AC pump in the new pumphouse will draw water from the 15,000 gal holding tank via 1" line and feed a new pressure tank. This will serve the "outside distribution system" with untreated water (perfectly safe to drink but smells like rotten eggs). Valves will allow either gravity feed or pressure feed of the irrigation system.
• A new 2" gas powered pump will draw water from the 15,000 gal holding tank via 2" line and feed a 1-1/2" fire hose spigot on the outside of the new pumphouse. 400' of 1-1/2" fire hose will reach the house, shop, barn and all the small out buildings.
• The new Pumphouse will be located next to the 15,000 gal holding tank (280' from the existing pumphouse). A trench between the old and new pumphouse will carry:
  • Well water down to the new pumphouse
  • Inside and outside water up to new Well-Head structure for connection to the 2 distribution networks.
  • 220VAC Power from Well-Head.
  • Control wires for a 220 volt power relay and several solenoid valves to be installed at Well-Head.
• Cross valves and manifolds in the new pump-house will allow selection of 3 sources of water for treatment and distribution to the inside system.
  • Well water using the existing in-well pump (same as today)
  • The 15,000 gallon holding tank.
  • The new 500 gallon holding tank (primary source).
• The new pump-house will be virtually air tight and well insulated (R-19 walls and R-36 ceiling). So with the 500 gallons of cold well water the interior temperature should always be less than 50 degrees F. Lots of shelf space will be available for long term food storage (sort of an above ground root cellar).

Coming soon