pressure

I have 2 shallow wells running on one pump, so supply is not an issue, however pressure is. The shut off is set at approx 32 psi, however the pressure will not get that high, and the pump(goulds 1/2hp) continues to run. I would like to have much higher pressure than this, what direction can you point me in?

You didn't send any info on the pump, but from what your saying, your jet is plugged.


bob...

The direction should be toward an open mind so as to entertain all options. Otherwise you rule out what may be the cause like the supply from two wells and then spend time effort and money uneccessarily. And still have the prolem... I've found that we usually come up with the idea that makes the most sense, then we dismiss it because we don't like the solution needed to cure it.

Usually when a pump can't build pressure, it is being starved for water. Meaning it has a blockage somewhere like the pump inlet screen or in the jet in a jet pump. Another cause is the water is too heavy to lift because of it's depth from the pump; if a jet pump that's a maximum of 25' at sea level. So tell us about the wells and why there are two. I suspect low producing wells, right?

And I'm assuming a jet pump here due to one pump and two wells, what size pipe from the wells to the pump? How far from the wells to the pump? Any uphill elevation from the wells to the pump?

Gary
Quality Water Associates

I'm definitely looking at this with an open mind, we've lived in this house since 1999 and water has been a constant issue. We actually have three wells, the third being a drilled well with quantity and quality issues, but the pressure is great when there is water in the well.

As far as the shallow dug wells, here's some more info on them:

1-you're right, they are low producing wells, and it is a jet pump
2-it looks like 1 inch pipe going from wells to pump
3-one well is 2 feet from the pump, the other is 30 feet away
4-there is no uphill elevation, in fact the farther well is uphill from the pump

Thank you
jim

With 2' and 30' you have an unbalanced supply to the pump. Meaning it will take more to get water out of the farther well than the closer well, at least I think so.But then the farther well is uphil from the pump and other well... so I don't know.

Since all wells are low producing, there's not much you can do but practice water conservation OR add a storage tank and then pump for short periods of time over a long time, to keep the tank supplied, and then add another pump in or outside the tank to repressurize for the house.

Or get the output from the drilled well into the tank or added to the output from the other two wells. Which the only way I can think of adding water from the third well is a tank. And use water treament equipment to treat all of it before it get to the fixtures; either at the tank or house or in the house if freezing is a problem. The shallow wells are very prone to contamination of various types.... and most you can't see, taste or smell.

Gary
Quality Water Associates

As fas as the 2 different shallow wells, we only run one at any given time throught the use of shut off valves within the water line, do you think this still might be the issue?

We have recently replaced the pressure switch, as well as the air volume control, if that matters.

Also, the separate holding tank has been mentioned to me previously, but that person was not sure how to set the system up. Would the pumping process into the storage tank be a manual process, or how would one set this up?

thanks again

jim

You would put a timer on the powerto the pump and pump a little at a time over a few hours, from either well you wanted to use, or maybe both.

Gary
Quality Water Associates

I still say it is a plugged jet. Any jet pump that has an injector, and is pumping some water should make at least 40 psi. If it don't, it has scale in the nozzle in the jet or chunks of scale in the impeller plugging 1 or 2 volutes.


bob...

the jets were plugged. We replaced all the parts and it works better than ever, we almost have too much pressure in the shower now.


thanks for the direction to go.

Jim