Could this replace a borehole submersible pump?

foxy farmer

The well on my cousins farm is about 50ft deep with only about 2ft of water at the best of times. The well was dug by hand and lined with concrete blocks giving a rectangular hole about 2.5ft by 3.5ft. A traditional borehole submersible pump lying horizontally is used to pump the water up to a pressure vessel and pressure switch setup.
Due to the nature of the bottom of the well the pump is not resting directly on the well floor. In the last few days the water has gone low and water has dropped so it's not covering the pump. I spotted the pump in the link below and it has a high lift rating.
Could this pump be connected up to the existing setup or are they only designed to pump water in non pressure situations? Wouldn't take much to rig it up and we could get it much closer to the well floor.

https://www.iedepot.ie/cleancraft-submersible-pump/

Tom44

Can't see why not.
If its still controlled by existing pressure switch off old pump well, if not its constantly pumping if water level is high, even if no flow demand.
I think having the float switch would suite your application, pump won't work if well is dry, so that's an advantage.
.
Pressure output will be lower than a proper submersible pump.

foxy farmer

My biggest fear is that it's not designed to build enough pressure to switch off the pressure switch. Off at 40 psi on at 20psi. We were toying with the idea of pulling up the existing pump dropping it into an IBC and getting the new pump to fill the IBC and controlling it with another float switch. Bit of a dose as IBC would have to be mounted overhead as room is scarce.

monseiur

I assume the water is for stock only (not domestic use) If so place say a 300 gallon storage tank (or bigger) on highest point of farm closest to well - this will feed all water troughs by gravity, use pump to fill tank as required. Fit a count down type timer which you switch on manually and it will switch off automatically so no need to wait around until storage tank is full. It will be trial and error at first while you figure out daily water usage and length of time it takes the pump to fill tank etc.
These count down time switches are very reasonably priced (under €30.00 I think) and can be set at 15 minute intervals up to max. of two hours. Seven day timers are also available which switch on and off automatically & can be set to kick in on a daily basis or as required.
The fact that the pump has a float switch ensures that it will not operate when well is very low/dry.

foxy farmer

Water is for domestic use and washing parlour and dairy. He has another well supplying the cattle but this has some rust contamination and wants to avoid using it for house or washing.
Yeah a timer of some sort would be simple to rig up too.
Ideally we want to just connect new pump to existing setup and just switch off existing pump until water level returns to normal.

Tom44

Dug by hand and 50' deep, some dig.

But for domestic use that's not safe, you'd be better off getting a proper deep well bored, but that's you're call.

listermint

Start saving for a proper bore

The weather getting hotter how can he fare with Kong dry spells like last year with only 2 foot of water in the well.

I'd be looking to future proof his tbh.

foxy farmer

listermint wrote: »

Start saving for a proper bore

The weather getting hotter how can he fare with Kong dry spells like last year with only 2 foot of water in the well.

I'd be looking to future proof his tbh.

He sunk a new well in 01 down 170ft and water has rust in it. Installed a filter system but cost of maintaining due to high volumes being treated was ridiculous. Any wells drilled in the area all have rust issues. The old well has served fine since the 50s. Last year he had no issue as we had plenty rain in the spring. This yr is different.