Advice on shallow well set up

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Louise Green

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We in the West Kootenays BC. Our shallow well is 25 feet deep, has a 6inch casing and water depth of 11 feet. We have a 3/4hp jet pump above ground with a 6.5 gallon pressure tank, we have been able to get water out enough for our needs all summer, but the well is slow to recover and has the potential to run dry before the pressure tank cuts off at 40psi. We estimate flow is less than 1GPM.

We are newbies to wells and how to set them up, and have been trying a few things this summer, but would really appreciate advice on a workable set up, we are building a cabin and want to ensure we design with water supply in mind.
Over 24 hours the well produces enough water for our use, and we need additional storage to cope with peak demand.

The well is 300 feet away from the cabin site, ground is level. We need a way to shut off the pump to stop it running dry as a timer or sensor, a storage tank and a way to get stored water pressurized into the cabin.

Its a remote area and we haven't had much luck getting advice from local service providers in advising solutions, apart from drilling a new well. We'd like to see if there is a set up that will work with what we have.
Thankyou
 

Reach4

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There are electronic devices that will monitor the current used by the pump, and shut down the pump for a settable period when the pump first runs out of water.

You may want to switch to a 1/2 hp submersible pump if you ever change out your pump. No priming required.
 

Valveman

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All you need is a cistern or storage tank with a float switch, and a booster pump with a PK1A to send strong constant pressure to the house.

LOW YIELD WELL_ CENTRIFUGAL_PK1A.jpg
 

Valveman

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With no wires between the cistern and well pump, you can use a solenoid valve controlled by the float switch to start the pump which is controlled by a pressure switch and Cycle Stop Valve like this.

LOW YIELD WELL_and storage with two PK1A.jpg
 

Louise Green

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Thank-you that looks feasible.
So we would need to change the pump we have to a submersible pump to make this set up work?

Would it be better to have the storage tank at the well or at the house or doesn't it matter?

We have power at both locations

With no wires between the cistern and well pump, you can use a solenoid valve controlled by the float switch to start the pump which is controlled by a pressure switch and Cycle Stop Valve like this.

View attachment 87801
 

Louise Green

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There are electronic devices that will monitor the current used by the pump, and shut down the pump for a settable period when the pump first runs out of water.

You may want to switch to a 1/2 hp submersible pump if you ever change out your pump. No priming required.
Thanks I was thinking this is probably the case as it's easier to get switched and sensors to control the submersible pump
 

Louise Green

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There are electronic devices that will monitor the current used by the pump, and shut down the pump for a settable period when the pump first runs out of water.

You may want to switch to a 1/2 hp submersible pump if you ever change out your pump. No priming required.
Got the opportunity to get a 1/2 hp submersible on sale. It's a 2 wire 240v pump, controls inside the pump.Would this work with the setups described here?
 

Reach4

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Probably. I suggest a flow inducer to enhance motor cooling. That is cheap and homemade.

When you buy a pump that does not indicate GPM, it is probably 10 or more gpm. A 5 GPM or 7GPM is a more premium pump with more stages, but a cheaper 10 gpm is probably good for your application.
 

Louise Green

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Probably. I suggest a flow inducer to enhance motor cooling. That is cheap and homemade.

When you buy a pump that does not indicate GPM, it is probably 10 or more gpm. A 5 GPM or 7GPM is a more premium pump with more stages, but a cheaper 10 gpm is probably good for your application.
You are right its 10gpm at 30 psi. Its a Mastercraft, so not a premium pump. But $469 reduced to $199 so kind of attractive price. :)
To avoid the well running dry can we install a pump protector such as Pumptec of Littelfuse on the 2 wire pump?
 
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