setting up a reservoir tank for low producing well

[jdieter]

Type of pump?
Submersible__Gould______
Two wire (no control)________
Three wire (control box)_Gould Pump Protector_____
Wire Size____#10_____ Wire Length__175'______
or
Jet Pump (above ground)_________
One or two pipes down the well____

Size of Pump?
Motor Horsepower?__________
Pump Model #______________
Date Pump Installed____1994______

Pumping from?
Cistern tank___________
Pond, lake, river________
Water Well___yes_________
Depth of well___60'_______
Depth to water_45'________
Pump Setting_0n 25psi off 40psi_________
Pipe Size_________"
Drop Pipe Material
PVC___yes_____
Steel_______
Poly________

Well Recovery Rate__1-2_____gpm
Well Casing Diameter___4____â€
Rock Well__________ Sand Well______yes and if I don't change the whole filter every 3-4 months the filter housing is packed solid with sand____ Other______________
Date Well Drilled____________

Well Casing Material
PVC____yes____ Steel_________ Other_________


Pressure Tank?
Bladder or diaphragm tank (one pipe to tank)___bladder_______
Size or model of tank_____80 gallon_______
Air charge in top of tank, with pump off and water drained__20__________PSI
(check with car tire gauge)
or
Plain Hydro Pneumatic tank (two pipes to tank, one in and one out)_________
Size of tank________________

Pressure Switch Setting?
On 30, off 50 ________
On 40, off 60_________
Other____on 25 off 40___________

Pump Control Method?
Cycle Stop Valve model #_________
Variable speed control #__________
Pump Start Relay (sprinkler timer, no tank)__________
Manually turned on and off____________

Pump Protection
Cycle Sensor_________
Pumptec_____________
Low pressure cutoff switch (lever on side)__________
Other____Gould unit detects low current providing a timed shutdown for well to recover___________

Filters or Softeners___yes both___________
Before or after pressure tank_after______
Type of filter____whole house_______________
Bypass available______no__________

Water Used For?
House Use___yes____ Number of baths___2____ Number of People__2______
High Flow Showers_______gpm?
Plus/Or
Irrigation with timers________
Irrigation with hoses________
Heat Pump______gpm?


Problems Experienced
No Water_________________
Water only part time________
Water at all times but weak_____
Air in water_______________
Pressure surging___________
Water Hammer (noise)______
Too Much pressure_________
Other___can run well dry if water left on for 1/2 hour_________________


Pump makes clicking or buzzing sounds________
No Sounds______________
Pressure gauge reading________psi
Other____________________________________

Do you have, and know how to use
an Ampmeter and Voltmeter_____yes_____________

Describe Problem _I'm considering adding a reservoir tank and a booster pump to help with the low producing well. My well contractor tried blowing the well to increase flow during last years drought with no success, there wasn't enough standing head in the well to accomplish anything and advised me to add a reservoir tank. I'll use a 300 gallon and a dole valve with the original pump protect and a float switch, the a shallow well Gould and check valve to the pressure tank. My well is 175' from the house and up a hill. I'd estimate there is 30' of fall from the top of the casing to the pressure tank. I recently disconnected the pressure tank and had to shut off the submersible discharge line to stop the flow. I don't know if this was simply the downhill portion of the line draining and/or I was siphoning from the well. So my questions are any advice on my reservoir setup and would it be possible to siphon the well in my situation. I have to move the pressure tank back in the house after the flooring contractor finished his work and the next time I take apart the discharge line I'll let it run longer, the first move was maybe 3-4 minutes before I shut it off. If it is a siphon then only answer I have is a solenoid valve which I really don't want with the sand issue I have._________________________.....

 

[Valveman]

It is possible that the well will siphon downhill to the storage tank. But you will need the pump to get it started the first time. I also doubt that the solenoid that fills the storage tank will have enough pressure to close from just 30’ of gravity.

Also if you have sand, use a scrubber type solenoid valve.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[jdieter]

It is possible that the well will siphon downhill to the storage tank. But you will need the pump to get it started the first time. I also doubt that the solenoid that fills the storage tank will have enough pressure to close from just 30’ of gravity.

Also if you have sand, use a scrubber type solenoid valve.

I'm not familiar with a scrubber valve so a quick search and I found them in irrigation applications. Would irrigation valve be ok for drinking water? it sounds like I need a direct acting valve versus a piloted style also. Can you direct me to a source for the correct valve for my application?

 

[Valveman]

Didn't look very long but here is the first link that came up.
http://www.sprinklerwarehouse.com/Toro-NPT-Irrigation-Valve-Scrubber-p/p220s-26-08.htm

 

[jdieter]

Thanks on the valve link. I'm concerned about hard plumbing between the pump inlet and the plastic reservoir tank stressing the bulkhead fitting from the pump starting torque. I'll mount the pump on a concrete pedestal, probably a section of flue block filled with concrete which should help, but should I use a flexible line and if so what is a good style?