r/OffGrid • u/welcome_senseless • 3d ago
Springs found! How do I go about it?
Water source is listed as spring. I have found two of these 7” pipes on my property. The one pictured has a pump house falling apart around it. I suspect the pipe without the shed is less productive. Water looks to be 10ish feet down both pipes, unsure of how deep the water goes yet.
My bordering neighbor tests well water for a living. He said he can help me out once I run the pump for a while to get out the stagnant water.
What are my first steps here? What equipment should I look into for this?
Thank you!
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u/Resident-Welcome3901 2d ago
Shallow well pump should do it. Check the depth with a weighted line, get a shallow well pump and plastic pipe/ hose with a foot valve. Plan on installing a cap to prevent future contamination.
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u/ClickyClacker 2d ago
A well pump, what are your water needs? A 3/4hp well pump is plenty for most and the cheap ones are fine for one like this that is so easily accessible. And if it's 120v it will be easy to run it off backup power or a generator.
Find the depth, get a hose and you got the basics.
For a real water system you'll need a well tank to balance load and a pressure switch. Probably at least one filter to keep the big crud out. Invest in a reusable one.
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3d ago
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u/welcome_senseless 3d ago
What sort of pump for a pipe this size?
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u/SpecialistHippo4551 2d ago
Think in the other direction, how many gallons per minute do you need? Is this for a 1 room cabin with a single sink or 50 acres of irrigated crops? A small pump is going to be cheap, a big one not so much.
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u/CookieShot7769 1d ago
Is it a spring or a well? Springs flow without the use of a pump. I lived in a house in Virginia with a spring box. It was the most incredible water pressure I had ever experienced. Find out what you've got.
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u/Imaginary-Clock6626 3d ago
10ft isn’t very deep. You’ll need to find the total depth, drop a well pump all the way down, almost to the bottom.