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Off grid Pump for Spring?

 
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Forgive me if this topic has already been covered elsewhere. I wasn't able to find anything specifically germane to my situation.

I have a spring that I've developed with concrete well tiles. It's holding about 470 gallons from ground level down 5 ft.

I need to get the water to my house site, which is about 6-8 ft above the spring and about 200 ft away horizontally.

I am also on an offgrid solar system.

I also do not have a basement and I'm in a cold northeastern climate (northern New England).

What is a good pump and / or pressure tank setup to get the water to the house and pressurized for use?

I am just starting to dip my toe into this topic so any basic info you can point me toward to make this decision would be very helpful. Thanks!  

 
steward and tree herder
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What is the flow rate? As it is a low head I wonder whether a ram pump may work for you.
 
steward
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More work up front, but a sustainable method is pumping with a dc solar pump to a cistern at higher elevation to provide your pressure.
 
steward
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My suggestion would be a ram pump:

https://permies.com/t/144159/Ram-Pump-Magic

https://permies.com/t/181339/Common-ram-pump-issues
 
gardener
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Do you have room in the house for a systems room of some sort? Like an internal closet?  

We had a super insulated pump room on the exterior of our basement free house, but it needed an electric heater to keep the pump room warm. An internal closet (probably needs about 2 ftĂ—2 ft of floor space) would be better if you keep your house continually warm.

I currently have a shallow, surface well about 200 ft horizontally, and with the intake maybe 30 ft downslope from my house, so I have a jet pump, although mine requires 240V.

If you expect to drink the water, I'd try to make any pump room/house large enough for water treatment equipment to be installed in the future, like filters and UV. My water treatment to get my surface water potable takes far more space and energy than my pump!

Edit : I just have a standard pressure tank, mine is ludicrously small, I believe 5 gal. If I were designing my system new, esp using solar power, I'd chose a large pressure tank.  Part of my water treatment systems is an under sink RO that works on the water pressure, and has another maybe 5 gal pressure tank. It would be nice to have more water available without running the pump. My exterior tap for watering my garden  bypasses the pressure tank and filters.
 
Steward of piddlers
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How deep is the frost line where you live? I'm thinking you may want to consider an in-ground cistern fed via the spring but it would require some serious work.

 
Anne Miller
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I wonder if turning that spring into a well would work?

Edit to add links explaing how to with a culvert:

https://permies.com/t/152612/Spring-House-Barn-Garden-Water
 
pollinator
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The common solution here (7b Tennessee) is to put a submersible well pump in the springbox and the pressure tank in the pantry or broom closet.

The smallest 120v pump should work. People often buy a separate inverter just for the water system, just big enough and has a really low standby power draw.

Bigger issue for you is making sure your line is buried deep enough.
 
John Carr
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Thanks for all the advice everyone.

So the spring is already a well. It's been dug down 10 feet with crushed stone laid down and concrete well tiles put on top to hold the water.

Re: the ram pump, my understanding is that this has to be on the surface (it can't be buried) and in a cold climate like mine this won't work for half the year. Please correct me if I'm wrong

Is there a reason I would not want to use a suction pump up at the house? Do these use much more energy than a submersible or booster pump?
 
R Scott
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That is a long run for a suction line. You could run two water lines for a jet pump, but I think the submersible and wire will be cheaper.
 
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Ok so your spring is 5 ft deep. The house is about 5 foot higher and 200 ft away. You will need to put it a 200 ft water line from the spring to your house. Dig the trench find out your frost depth so your pipes don't freeze. Pour in 6in gravel. Lay your line. Check for leaks and pressure test. Pour more gravel. Compact. Then add the backfill back in, in 12in increments. Compact accordingly.

Then you will need a room or closet, or build an insulated shed for your pressure tank and pressure switch. Google the parts and fittings needed.

Fairly straight forward watch some videos and take notes. Not too bad. You will need a well submersible pump. If you use a pump that isn't submerged ie. Lot more involved but still possible.
 
I agree. Here's the link: http://stoves2.com
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