Submersible Well Pumps for Drinking Water Wells InspectAPedia® -
Submersible Well Pumps for Drinking Water Wells - Problems & Repair Advice
What are the components of a submersible pump water supply system?
What types of wells use a submersible well pump? From what dept and at what pressure and flow can a submersible well pump deliver water?
Definitions of well and water pump types, parts, components
What is the Pumping Capacity in Gallons per Minute for a Submersible Deep Well Pump?
Well pump & water tank diagnosis & repair procedures
Questions & Answers about submersible well pump & pump controls
This article describes the components of a submersible well pump water system, how the pump, well and controls work, what the well pump components look like, and what they do. We give submersible well pump troubleshooting advice and invite questions.
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Readers of this document should also see our other diagnostic guides for water pumps, wells, motors, in table form:
What are the Components of a Drilled Well with a Submersible Water Pump?
We introduced drilled wells and bored wells at Drilled Wells - steel casings. Here we provide detail about the individual components and operating characteristics of drilled wells using a steel casing where a submersible water pump has been installed in the well to deliver water to the building. Rather than an in-well submersible water pump, other wells use a one line or two line jet pump (depending on well depth. Those well types are discussed in more detail at Shallow Well with One Line Jet Pump and Well with Two Line Jet Pump
Refer to this rough sketch of a deep well with a submersible pump. This list and definition of water well parts and terms is
organized from the top of the drawing towards its bottom and uses names that correspond to those shown in our drawing. First we
describe items listed on the right side of our sketch, second we describe items and terms listed on the left side of the sketch.
Definitions of well and water pump items shown on the sketch right side, top to bottom:
Well cap which you can see at the top of the sketch as well as in the photographs just above, is a seal intended to keep surface runoff
and debris out of the well casing. Many well caps are not water tight, which is why modern drilled well casings extend above ground level.
Wiring to the well pump is sketched entering at the well cap and is also visible as the gray conduit in the above left hand photo of a well casing.
When this wiring is visible we know that the pump is in the well and therefore a submersible pump is installed. If this wiring is absent
we expect to find that the well pump is either nearby in a well pit or is located inside the building it serves.
Pitless Adapter is the special fitting that seals the hole in the well casing where the water piping makes its right angled turn and then
exits the well casing to pass on to the building.
Water piping to the house rises vertically inside the well casing from the top of the submersible pump to a point (below the frost line in
cold climates) where it makes a right angled turn and passes out through the well casing and onwards to the building.
Well casing is in this sketch the 6" diameter steel pipe which is driven into the well from above ground into bedrock, then sealed against
groundwater leaks.
End of Casing marks the point at which the well casing (usually about 6" diameter steel pipe) has extended into bedrock and has been sealed. The remainder of the hole drilled
to form the water well is drilled (usually) through water bearing rock.
Water flow through cracks in rock is shown in the drawing, indicating that water enters the well by flowing through multiple fissures
in the water bearing rock. (We don't usually tap right into an underground lake or stream of water though that's possible in some areas.)
Water Pump, in this case a submersible water pump since it's inside the well, is located near but somewhat above the very bottom of
the well. If your well pump won't start see ELECTRIC MOTOR OVERLOAD RESET SWITCH for some electric motor or pump motor troubleshooting suggestions.
Well recovery rate or well water flow rates (marked as R1, R2, R3) indicate that water actually flows into the well at different flow rates from different rock fissures
at different depths in the well. The well flow rate is the sum of all of these water in-flows, measured in gallons per minute that water flows into
(or can be drawn out of) the well over a standard measurement period, usually 24 hours. So a 5 gallon per minute yield well indicates that the
water flow into or recovery rate of the well is the same as the rate at which we can draw a sustained water flow out of the well for some time period.
Pump Clearance from Bottom shows that the water pump is inserted into the well some distance from the very bottom of the well (inches to a few feet). We need this
clearance to reduce the tendency of the well pump to pick up mud and debris from the bottom of the well.
Definitions of well and water pump items shown on the above sketch left side, top to bottom
Here we see an illustration of the details of a submersible well pump at left, and at right additional details of a submersible pump well design, courtesy of Carson Dunlop's sketch. The letters at each definition are keyed to our rough deep well sketch higher on this page.
Ground level marks the actual ground surface level in the sketch. Note that the well casing extends above ground level to avoid surface runoff entry into the well (where it would contaminate the well water and local aquifer).
Air (a) marks the distance from ground level extending down inside the well casing which is filled with air. Except in cases of artesian wells,
the at-rest level of water in a drilled well is always some distance between the ground's upper surface. This is one of the reasons that knowing the "depth of a well" from ground level to well bottom does not tell us
how much water is inside the well casing.
Water Top (WT) marks the level to which water rises inside the well casing when the well is at rest (not in use). This level often varies
seasonally, dropping lower in dry seasons and rising during the rainy season. (WT) marks the very top of the amount of water which is available
to the water pump when it is turned on to send water out of the well on to its destination.
Slurry shows the slurry which is pumped around the outside of the well casing after the casing has been inserted into the drilled well opening. The slurry acts to seal the well casing against surface water entry and contamination.
Bedrock shows that for a typical drilled water well, the lower portion of the well, below the end of the well casing, is a hole drilled into bedrock.
Rock fissures and recovery rates R1, R2, R3 indicate that water actually flows into the well at different flow rates from different rock fissures as we
discussed just above where we explained well recovery rate.
Well Depth (d) is a vertical arrow showing that the total drilled depth of the well is the distance from the ground surface to the
very bottom of the well. Well depth is also the sum of Air (a), Static Head (h), and Pump Bottom Clearance (c).
Static Head (h) is the height of the total column of water which is available to the water pump to draw on inside the well. This amount
or vertical distance inside the well extends from the very bottom of the well pump itself to the at-rest top of the water column in the well. Inside
a 6" diameter well casing we find about 1.5 gallons per foot of height of the column of water.
Pump Clearance from Bottom of Well (c) as we mentioned earlier, shows that the water pump is inserted into the well some distance from the very bottom of the well (inches to a few feet). We need this
clearance to reduce the tendency of the well pump to pick up mud and debris from the bottom of the well.
What is the Pumping Capacity in Gallons per Minute for a Submersible Deep Well Pump?
A submersible deep well water pump (the pump is physically inside the well and at or close to the bottom of the well piping) can typically raise water from depths of 30-feet to hundreds of feet, and at water delivery rates of 4 gpm 25 gpm depending on the variables that we list below. Submersible well pumps are typically offered in horsepower ratings of 1/2 HP, 3/4 HP, 1 HP, and 1 1/2 HP. At WATER PUMP CAPACITIES TYPES RATES GPM we compare the pumping capacities of one line jet pumps, two line jet pumps, submersible well pumps, and other water pumping methods.
Rated water flow rates for pumps range (by horsepower and model) from a nominal 6 gpm to 35 gpm.
Watch out: installing a higher capacity well pump may indeed give faster water flow and higher water system pressure, but if the pump is not properly matched to the well's safe flow rate (by pump selection or pump controls) you can pump all of the water out of your well, run dry, damage the pump, etc. See Define Safe Yield for a Well
A nice example table of Deep Well Submersible Well Pump Capacities is provided in the Water Ace 4-inch (diameter) Submersible Well Pump Installation Manual and excerpted below to illustrate the factors that determine well pump capacity. We have sharpened the text and provided a larger, more legible table (click to enlarge) than the original.
In selecting a well pump the well depth as well as water flow requirements must be considered. While jet pumps have a pickup placed typically 5-feet above the well bottom, when installing a submersible pump it is placed ten feet above the well bottom (maximum) or ten feet below the draw down limit for the well.
The Water Ace charts (shown in part above) make clear that the capacity of a deep well pump to deliver water at a given flow rate varies by these factors:
the depth of the well (the bottom scale in the two charts)
the pump horsepower (the color codes indicate pump model and horsepower HP variation)
The well pump model (the right hand table is for the company's more powerful well pump series of 2-line jet pumps)
The condition of well piping, including pipe diameter, length, number of bends or elbows
The presumption that the entire piping system has no leaks
Permission requested, Water Ace Corp. Aug 2010 - Pentair Pump Group.
Water Ace asserts that a typical 3-4 bedroom home requires a water delivery rate of 8-12 GPM.
Watch out: the water delivery rate at plumbing fixtures is determined by the water pump as well as building water supply piping and controls. But it is a number independent of the ability of the well itself to deliver a sustained water flow - the well yield. The water delivery rate is also independent of the total quantity of water that can be run before you run out. See How Much Water is In the Well? and see Define Safe Yield for a Well.
Watch out: Safety warnings are throughout any pump manufacturer's instructions. Because some pump models are capable of developing internal pressures of more than 100 psi, if your building piping, pressure relief valves, safety controls, wiring, and plumbing are not properly installed, very dangerous conditions including electrical shock, tank explosion, and leaks or floods can occur.
Questions & Answers about submersible well pump & pump controls
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Deep Well Jet Pumps, Government of Alberta, Agriculture and Rural Development, toll free in Alberta at 310-FARM web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex639
Betta-Flo Jet Pump Installation Manual, National Pump Co., LLC., includes helpful well pump troubleshooting tips as well as basic jet pump installation details. Web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.nationalpumpcompany.com/Documents/OIM/Betta%20Flo%20IOM%20Jet%20Pump.pdf
Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Smart Tank, Installation Instructions [ copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] - , Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf
Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Water Ace Jet Pump Installation Manual, instructions from Water Ace Pump Co., web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.waterace.com/pdf/R510%20R520%20and%20R100%20Jet%20Pumps%20Manual.pdf
Consumer hotline: 800-942-3343 - instructions for the installation and maintenance of
Water Ace shallow well pump Model R510 1/2 HP
Water Ace deep well pump Model R100 convertible 1HP and
Water Ace deep well jet pump Model R250 convertible 1/2 hp.
Quoting from the company's website:
The Water Ace Pump Company is a dynamic, rapidly growing retail pump manufacturer, backed by a tradition of over 125 years of excellence. We offer a complete line of sump, sewage, lawn sprinkler, swimming pool, submersible well and jet pumps as well as pressure tanks and accessories.
Water Ace Jet Pump Installation Manual, from Water Ace Pump Co., web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.waterace.com/pdf/RTS5%20RTS7%20RTS10%20RC5%20and%20RC10%20Jet%20Pumps%20Manual.pdf
Consumer hotline: 800-942-3343 - instructions for the installation and maintenance of Water Ace pump models:
Water Ace Shallow Well 1-line Jet Pump Models RTS5 (1/2HP), Model RTS7 (3/4 HP) and RTS10 (1HP)
Water Ace Deep Well 2-line Jet Pump Models RC5 (1/2 HP) and RC10 (1HP)
Water Ace Submersible Well Pump Installation Manual, from Water Ace Pump Co., web search 08/28/2010, original source: http://www.waterace.com/pdf/23833A019%20Well%20Pumps%20Eng.pdf
Spanish and French language submersible well pump installation manuals are available from the company.
Consumer hotline: 800-942-3343 - instructions for the installation and maintenance of Water Ace pump models:
Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment
Access Water Energy, PO Box 2061, Moorabbin, VIC 3189, Australia, Tel: 1300 797 758, email: sales@accesswater.com.au Moorabbin Office: Kingston Trade Centre, 100 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, VIC 3189
Australian supplier of: Greywater systems, Solar power to grid packages, Edwards solar systems, Vulcan compact solar systems, water & solar system pumps & controls, and a wide rage of above ground & under ground water storage tanks: concrete, steel, plastic, modular, and bladder storage tanks.
Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
Smart Tank, Installation Instructions [ copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] - , Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf
Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safety.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
Crystal Clear Supply provides portable ceramic water filter purifiers and portable reverse osmosis water treatment equipment - see http://www.crystalclearsupply.com/category_s/7.htm
Handbook of Disinfectants and Antiseptics, Joseph M. Ascenzi (Editor), CRC, 1995, ISBN-10: 0824795245 ISBN-13: 978-0824795245 "The evaluation of chemical germicides predates the golden age of microbiology..." -
This well-focused, up-to-date reference details the current medical uses of antiseptics and disinfectants -- particularly in the control of hospital-acquired infections -- presenting methods for evaluating products to obtain regulatory approval and examining chemical, physical, and microbiological properties as well as the toxicology of the most widely used commercial chemicals.
Potable Aqua® emergency drinking water germicidal tablets are produced by the Wisconsin Pharmacal Co., Jackson WI 53037. 800-558-6614 pharmacalway.com
Principles and Practice of Disinfection, Preservation and Sterilization (Hardcover)
by A. D. Russell (Editor), W. B. Hugo (Editor), G. A. J. Ayliffe (Editor), Blackwell Science, 2004. ISBN-10: 1405101997, ISBN-13: 978-1405101998.
"This superb book is the best of its kind available and one that will undoubtedly be useful, if not essential, to workers in a variety of industries. Thirty-one distinguished specialists deal comprehensively with the subject matter indicated by the title ... The book is produced with care, is very readable with useful selected references at the end of each chapter and an excellent index. It is an essential source book for everyone interested in this field. For pharmacy undergraduates, it will complement the excellent text on pharmaceutical microbiology by two of the present editors."
The Pharmaceutical Journal: "This is an excellent book. It deals comprehensively and authoritatively with its subject with contributions from 31 distinguished specialists. There is a great deal to interest all those involved in hospital infection ... This book is exceptionally well laid out. There are well chosen references for each chapter and an excellent index. It is highly recommended." The Journal of Hospital Infection.: "The editors and authors must be congratulated for this excellent treatise on nonantibiotic antimicrobial measures in hospitals and industry ... The publication is highly recommended to hospital and research personnel, especially to clinical microbiologists, infection-control and environmental-safety specialists, pharmacists, and dieticians."
New England Journal of Medicine: City Hospital, Birmingham, UK. Covers the many methods of the elimination or prevention of microbial growth. Provides an historical overview, descriptions of the types of antimicrobial agents, factors affecting efficacy, evaluation methods, and types of resistance. Features sterilization methods, and more. Previous edition: c1999. DNLM: Sterilization--methods.
U.S. Army Field Manual 21-10, Field Hygiene and Sanitation, 1988, web search 07/02/2010, original source: http://www.enlisted.info/field-manuals/fm-21-10-field-hygiene-and-sanitation.shtml The purpose of this manual is to assist individual soldiers, unit commanders, leaders and field sanitation teams in preventing disease and environmental injuries. The manual provides information on preventive medicine measures (PMM) to the individual soldier as well as essential information for the unit commander, unit leaders, and the unit field sanitation team on applying unit level PMM.
When Technology Fails, Matthew Stein, Chelsea Green Publisher, 2008,493 pages. ISBN-10: 1933392452 ISBN-13: 978-1933392455, "... how to find and sterilize water in the face of utility failure, as well as practical information for dealing with water-quality issues even when the public tap water is still flowing". Mr. Stein's website is www.whentechfails.com/
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