Craig Myers

Rebecca Norman wrote:India is really good at handpumps, but I don't know if any Indian pumps are available in the US. Look into it...

So interestingly I found IndiaMart.com and then found this:
https://www.indiamart.com/proddetail/mild-steel-hand-pump-2854187440733.html

Looks kinda familiar!

Cristobal Cristo wrote:
After Edit:
If it really is $1500, I would not pay this much. I do not believe that the price was increased by the factor of 3 in 10 years. Maybe $1500 is for a deep well pump?
I really do not like that they do not post prices online - I hate companies that do that. I feel like they want to hide something or bait customer into their monopolisticly priced product.

https://www.lehmans.com/product/stainless-steel-shallow-well-pump?utm_source=google&utm_campaign=21779797177&utm_medium=ad&utm_content=&utm_term=&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw68K4BhAuEiwAylp3klpDDK-V2cV_BKc6yzUYXegf134snl9tsr96Mkn96zdKmEpBKxYPbhoCeAIQAvD_BwE

https://shop.avrame.com/products/bison-shallow-well-hand-pump-model-1900

I haven't called Bison direct yet since I am hoping for something a little more reasonable even than $550.

Matt McSpadden wrote:Hi Craig,
Welcome to Permies!

I don't have the experience you are looking for, but thought I would ask if you have checked Bison's shallow well pumps? I imagine they are more expensive than some, but should be much less expensive than their deep well versions.

$1500 ... WAY out of my price range!

Hello,

We have an OTG cabin in Northern Michigan with a full solar electric system and composting toilet.  This past weekend we drove a shallow well for wash water.  I hit water at ~26 feet and have about 5-6 foot of water in the well.  3 foot sand point with six 5' sections of pipe and about 2-3' above ground with a brass ball valve.  I had one of those cheap China pumps from Menards and it pumped out about 15 gallons and then broke suction.  Could not get it to prime after that.  My thought is the build quality of the pump and the sand in the leathers as we pumped to clean it out reduced the already marginal depth we are pumping.

I know about the Bison and other deep well pumps but they are very expensive.  I'm thinking if I buy a good antique pump and rebuild if I might have better luck.  Anyone have any similar experiences with the modern cheap pumps?

Also curious about the stainless teel pumps on Amazon.  It seems the tolerances might be tighter and help?  Anyone ever use those?

Should I borrow/rent a jet pump to clean the sediment until it runs clear?  Wondering if the sand destroyed my leathers?

Sorry for all the questions but this is my first shallow well and looking for experienced feedback from those that have been in my shoes.  I don't want to spend a fortune on deep well pumps since it is not a primary source of drinking water.

Thanks in advance!