Low yield well trying to figure GPM

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River Steve

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My well has always been a low yield well. I have a 3/4 hp pump down at approximately 40ft, it is controlled by a cycle senor, it feeds my cistern. We have been very dry this year and it’s forced me to haul water most of the year. I’m trying to get my system back up and running.

The cycle sensor had previously been set to shut off at 2.6 amp, the pump runs at about 4.2 normally. It had been timed to 150 minutes. Tonight I decided to see if I could get more water by changing my timer 45 minutes. I timed how long it run and it ran for 14.42 seconds before shutting off. The line coming into the cistern is 3/4”. I’m trying to figure roughly the water production of the well.

I’ll take any suggestions on my setup and what you think the well is producin. I have changed it back to 150 and will time it again around 8pm
 

Reach4

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A 10 gpm pump lifting 40 ft into a tank would probably be pumping about 15 gpm. That would correspond to 3.6 gallons in your 14.42 seconds. It will be interesting how much longer the pump runs if you rest it for 150 minutes.

A 10 gpm pump is a guess.

Any other info... how deep the well is, for example?
 

River Steve

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The well is approximately 50 ft. I will be timing it again just after 8pm and will post the time.
 

Reach4

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It will be interesting to see the run time vs off time. I think this would make for good points onto a graph. You could turn off the breaker, and track the off time manually. I wonder what the run time would be after the pump is off for 8 hours.

What is the ID of the well?

Lowering the pump by 5 ft could be worthwhile...
 

Reach4

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If you go with 150 minutes, will that keep up with your water use?
 

Blue Oaks

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You only got 2 times the water by switching to 3 times the delay, so probably best for water production to go back to 45 mins.

My well guy recommends acid flushing to improve production around here. That might be an option for you. I'm going to do it this year. My well pumps for about 50 seconds through a 1 inch pipe after a 40 min rest. My well is about 85 feet deep. My next door neighbor has a well 400 feet deep and it will pump water nearly indefinitely.
 

Valveman

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Sorry for your problem. It is hard for a pump to just run 15 or 50 seconds. I would restrict the flow with a ball valve to say 2 GPM, which should make the pump run for at least a minute after a 45 minute rest. You might even try reducing the time even more after restricting the pump. The lower you keep the water level in the well the more water will flow into it. If you can get it restricted to run for a minute after 20-30 minute delay the well may produce more water. The Cycle Sensor is one of the only dry well protectors that will let you restrict the pump as needed. Others will see the amps drop more than 25% when the pump is restricted and think the well is dry. The amps on the Cycle Sensor can be adjusted as low as needed.
 
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