"Tech Topics" continues its series on boosting low-yield wells.
Last month, we said that even a 1 gpm well is not a bad well if you can store its output for later use to meet peak demand because 1 gpm over 24 hours totals 1,440 gallons, which is way more than a typical household uses in a day. Further, we talked about some of the storage options available, such as increasing the capacity of your pressure tank by changing the cut-in, cut-out pressure switch settings, or adding more pressure tanks. Finally, we discussed using a non-pressurized storage tank to hold the water and a second pump, a booster pump, to provide the pressure for the household. We now turn our attention to the pumps and controls required for such a system.
Flow-inducing shrouds - If you are using a submersible well pump, you should install a flow-inducing shroud over the motor to ensure adequate motor cooling. One can be fabricated from a piece of thin-wall 4-inch PVC pipe about the same length as the sub and motor. With a hacksaw, make three longitudinal cuts 4 inches long evenly spaced around one end. Use a hose clamp to clamp the shroud to the pump just above the inlet screen. Use plastic tape to seal the upper end or the shroud where it passes over the wire guard. A perfect seal is not required.