Suck, no Suck

I drove a "sand point well" with 1 1/2" pipe. The depth is around 30'. I have a 1/2 hp. pump on it and doesn't produce any water. I hooked up a (I believe it called) Pitcher Pump, where you pump the handle up and down, and it does produce water. Not a heck of a lot, but, it does produce. The pumping action takes a little effort, but, not bad. I do have a check valve on the pipe. So, what's the bad news? Is it salvagable?

How deep is it to water? It maybe deeper than the pump can "suck".

I guess my question is still "why can I get water with a "picture pump" and not a shallow well pump (1/2 hp)? I now understand that a shallow well electric pump creates a "vacuum". Therefore the "hand pump", being the "picture pump", must create an actual lift of water. Or what?

Try cutting of the line between the pump and the pressure tank, then connect the pitcher pump to the priming plug of the jet pump. If you can pump water with the pitcher pump easily, then the jet pump should pump water as well. If it is hard to pump with the pitcher pump you have a lift problem or limited water in the well.

The practical maximum distance ANY pump can deliver water from is about 27'. If the water is that close to the elevation of the pump, then either the pitcher pump or the electric pump can deliver water. Your electric pump is either not primed or is worn so it cannot produce the proper "suction" to raise the water.

And 27' is with a brand new pump and zero leaks in the suction line.