Groundwater Well Types: Understanding Pros, Cons & Choices

If you need to have a well installed, there are a number of different types to choose from. Choosing the well that is best for your home or construction project is very important. Below are details on common well types.

Understanding Groundwater Wells: An Overview

Groundwater wells are essential for accessing underground water sources. They vary in design, each suited to different geological and environmental conditions. This guide provides insights into various well types and their suitability for specific needs. Understanding these differences is crucial for making informed decisions about well installation.

Pros and Cons of Bored Wells

Bored wells are ideal for shallow water tables and offer a cost-effective solution. They are easier to construct, but are more susceptible to contamination and drying up. Regular maintenance and proper sealing are crucial for their longevity. These wells suit areas with consistent groundwater levels.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Dug Wells

Dug wells are one of the oldest methods for accessing groundwater. They are best for areas with high water tables and are relatively inexpensive. However, their shallow nature makes them prone to contamination and seasonal variations in water availability. Careful location selection and construction can mitigate some risks.

Driven Wells: What You Need to Know

Driven wells penetrate deeper than bored or dug wells, accessing cleaner water sources. They are more durable and less prone to contamination. The installation process can be more complex and costly, but the long-term benefits often outweigh these initial investments. These wells are suitable for regions with deeper water tables.

Drilled Wells: Deep Dive into Benefits and Limitations

Drilled wells can reach the deepest water sources, providing the most reliable water supply. They require professional equipment and expertise, making them the most expensive option. Their depth offers protection from surface contamination and seasonal fluctuations. These wells are ideal for diverse geological conditions.

Choosing the Right Groundwater Well for Your Home

Selecting the right well depends on your location, water needs, and budget. Understanding the pros and cons of each well type is crucial for a sustainable water solution. Consult with experts to assess local geological conditions and water availability. A well-chosen groundwater system ensures a reliable and safe water supply.

Groundwater Well Safety and Maintenance Tips

Regular maintenance is key to the longevity and safety of groundwater wells. Ensure periodic testing for water quality, especially after heavy rains or flooding. Keep the area around the well clear of contaminants and regularly inspect well components. Proactive care helps prevent common issues and prolongs the well's life.

Get Expert Guidance Today!

Choosing the right groundwater well is a significant decision that impacts your water quality and availability. Don't navigate this choice alone. Our team at Guardian Well & Septic is ready to assist you with professional advice, tailored solutions, and top-notch installation services. Whether you're considering a new well or need advice on existing systems, we're here to help.

Schedule Your Well or Septic Inspection Today!

Contact us today to schedule a consultation. We'll assess your specific needs, discuss the most suitable well options for your property, and provide you with a comprehensive plan. Ensure a safe, reliable water source for your home or business with Guardian Well & Septic.

📞 (262) 518-2900
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COMMON WATER PUMPS USED IN WATER WELLS

There are many different types of water pumps that are used in water wells around the world. This post describes the 4 most common types of water well pumps (submersible, lift, jet, and suction) and provides advantages and disadvantages of each.

SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS

Submersible pumps are installed in most residential water wells in the United States and economically developed nations. The pump/motor assembly is lowered into residential water wells and pumps water through piping to the surface or just below the frost line. This water is usually routed through piping to a pressure tank for use in the home. The motor in the submersible pump is usually powered by electricity from the grid.

Advantages of Submersible Pumps

• Many different submersible pump manufacturers offer various models and sizes to fit your pumping needs.
• The motors in most submersible pump assemblies are powered by electricity from the grid. 
• Some submersible pump owners have their pumps hooked up to a solar system for reliability and independence from the grid. 

Disadvantages of Submersible Pumps

• Although typically reliable, submersible pump/motor assemblies result in a single point of failure. If your submersible pump assembly breaks, your family does not have their water supply.
• Submersible pumps utilize seals. These seals can become corroded over time. When the seal becomes corroded, water seeps into the submersible motor which typically shuts the motor off until the pump is repaired.
• The pump seal makes the submersible pump a bit difficult to get into for repairs.
• Submersible pumps rely on electricity. It is not uncommon for the grid to go down during major weather events and other natural disasters. When your family loses power, they also lose their water. This is the primary reason why many of our customers install a Simple Pump hand pump for their well alongside their submersible pump as a backup.

LIFT PUMPS

Lift pumps, also commonly called sucker-rod pumps, are usually manually operated well pumps.

These pumps work by lifting water from a cylinder located below the static water level of the well. The cylinder contains a piston and a check valve. A handle located at the surface is mechanically connected to the piston through a set of rods. As the handle is lifted up and down, the piston pumps the water through a series of pipes to the pump head at the surface.

Lift pumps are commonly used as a reliable backup to submersible pumps in many wells across the United States and other economically developed nations. This pump design is also used as a primary water source for villages in developing nations and homesteaders.

Advantages of Lift Pumps for Wells

• Lift pumps have few moving parts and are very reliable.
• Lift pumps can be installed in shallow and deep wells next to the submersible pump.
• Since the piston is located deep in the well, most lift pumps can pump water from static water levels several hundred feet below the surface.

Due to its computer machined craftsmanship and lightweight fiberglass rods, the Simple Pump can pump from deeper than any other lift pump on the market – 325 feet.

• Lift pumps do not require power from the grid. Unlike submersible pumps, the hand-operated lift pump will provide water to your family when the power goes out.
• Some lift pumps can pump into your home's pressure tank.

The Simple Pump deep well pump is one of the few lift pumps that can pump into your home's pressure tank to give you full use of your fixtures and appliances. This gives you the confidence that your family will always have their most important resource – water.

Disadvantages of Lift Pumps

• Most lift pumps are manually operated, which requires a person to physically work to supply the water. This is ideal for emergency situations or if the water demand is low. However, this type of pump can be impractical for sustained periods of time or when the demand for water is high.
• Depending on the cylinder size and the depth of the lift pump cylinder, manual pumping can be challenging.
• Lift pumps that utilize plastic parts can only pump water from a limited static water level before the plastic breaks because of the weight of the water and the pump parts. If you are relying on a hand pump in emergency situations, you are probably better off paying a little extra for a pump with stainless steel materials instead of plastic materials.

JET PUMPS

Jet pumps utilize the venturi effect to pump water from the well.

A small centrifugal pump is located outside the well. Some of the water from the centrifugal pump is recirculated to a venturi nozzle in the pump suction line. The recirculated water flowing through the nozzle creates a vacuum in the suction line which draws the water out of the well.

Advantages of Jet Pumps

• Jet pumps are powered by electricity from the grid.
• Jet pumps are a low-priced solution for pumping water from shallow depths and are commonly used in shallow wells.

Disadvantages of Jet Pumps

• Due to their design, jet pumps are usually limited to pumping from depths no greater than 130 feet.
• The pump casing and associated piping need to be primed prior to use.

SUCTION PUMPS (FOR SHALLOW WELLS)

Similar to a jet pump, the pumping action for suction pumps takes place at the surface and not in the well.

Suction pumps usually look like hand-operated lift pumps as they have a handle that is lifted up and down to pump water. But unlike a lift pump, the piston is located just below the handle. This piston creates a vacuum that sucks water from the well to the pump head. These pumps are only used for shallow wells.

Advantages of Suction Pumps for your Well

• Suction pumps have few moving parts and some models are very reliable.
• Suction pumps are competitively priced.
• Similar to lift pumps, suction pumps do not require electricity to supply water to your home.

Disadvantages of Suction Pumps for your Well

• There is a wide variety of suction pumps on the market. The majority of the suction pumps perform poorly due to their materials and construction. Likewise, these models are not built to last more than a couple of years (sometimes less). Special care should be taken when choosing a suction pump.
• Because the suction creates a vacuum, suction pumps are limited to pumping from depths no greater than 29 feet (at sea level). Most are limited to about 20-22 feet. This maximum depth decreases even further as you go up in elevation due to decreased air pressure. As such, this pump design is only an option for very shallow wells.

Simple Pump's shallow well suction pump is designed to pump from a static water level of 25 feet or less.

Conclusion

Hopefully, this provides some useful information about the different types of pumps for your water well. The easiest pumping solutions are electric pumps that utilize motors instead of manually pumping to get your water. However, having a hand pump as a backup to your electric pump is a great option for the few times a year when you lose power due to a storm or power grid problem.

Simple Pump provides a shallow well pump and a deep well hand pump as backup options to your electric well pump. And the unique option when considering Simple Pump, is that both the suction pump and the lift pump can be configured with a motor to make pumping your well water easier!