Emergency Shallow Well Water Pump Bypass Ideas

[Charlie Bosco]

Hi all, I have a shallow water pump for my home. Its on an emergency generator so I always have power. My concern is if the pump dies at a very inconvenient time, I'd like to have a quick bypass solution till I can have someone out to replace the pump.

My thought is to shut the main water off to the house using the existing gate valve. That will separate the pump from the house. Then use something like this pump setup from Harbor Freight.

1 HP Stainless Steel Shallow Well Pump and Tank with Pressure Control Switch - 950 GPH

Amazing deals on this 1Hp Shallow Well Pump W/Ss Housing 950 Gph at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

Without breaking the prime.. I'd connect a hose to the outlet spigot of the pump and connect it to the inlet of the bypass pump. Then connect the outlet of the bypass pump to a test spigot I have coming off my Katalox Tank. There should be no back flow since the main shutoff is sealed. Also I would put my Katalox tank in bypass mode just as a safety measure..

Just looking for a quick and simple method to get water again in case I am a day or so without water..

Thoughts?

 

[Reach4]

Are you proposing sucking water thru a dead jet pump?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Valveman]

Just use an RV pump with a 12V battery. Then your good if the power is off and/or the pump is out of service. You would also be surprised how long you can survive on a couple of 5 gallon water bottles in the closet.

 

[Charlie Bosco]

Are you proposing sucking water thru a dead jet pump?

Yes, essentially.

 

[Charlie Bosco]

Just use an RV pump with a 12V battery. Then your good if the power is off and/or the pump is out of service. You would also be surprised how long you can survive on a couple of 5 gallon water bottles in the closet.

Hmmm, not a bad idea. Even if the generator dies, I even have a 210 Watt Solar Panel and Charge Controller for a 12v Car Battery.