Illegal water pump?

[benbaaa]

We've had a period of ridiculously low mains water pressure, so low that in 24 hours it wouldn't even half fill our 850 litre tank. So after a dozen phone calls to the water company and three weeks of not showering or washing anything (I exaggerate slightly to make a point), we gave up on the water company and got a plumber in to have a look. He added a small water pump just our side of the water meter and hooked it up to the water tank's cut-off switch. Basically, if the tank's less than about 80% full now, the pump switches on and draws water from the main, through our meter and into the tank. It switches off automatically when the tank's full again.

We were pleased as punch with the job he did, paid him a nice little tip and made a note of his phone number in case we need any other plumbing done. Just as he was leaving, he said we shouldn't tell anyone about the new pump and to hide it when the man comes to read the meter, because it was illegal.

What the fuck, is this right? If the water company can't or won't supply mains water at a high enough pressure to fill an ordinary household tank, why is it a problem to install a pump to achieve the same effect?

Anybody know?

This is the kind of thing I'm talking about:



http://img.alibaba.com/photo/50350342/Water_Pump.jpg

[benbaaa]

Just to be crystal clear, the set up is as follows:

water main in the street > our meter > our new little pump > our tank > our main pump (to pump water into the house when we turn on a tap)

[lom]

Usually not allowed to have a pump in-line Benners.
But every house has one and that's the reason for you getting low pressure

[Mid]

no idea of the legalities but can see why it may be .

as you suck the water outa the already overloaded system others flow will be even less than the already poor supply your all getting .

[Smithson]

Just a guess, maybe by adding a pump your drawing so much water from the system that it's actually reducing the pressure and supply for others.

[Texpat]

I would think anything your side of the meter is fair game.

If he knew it might be a problem, why didn't your plumber install it right next to your tank, and away from the water meter where the water man will see it?

[lom]

I would think anything your side of the meter is fair game.

The meter doesn't do any reduction in water capacity so the house with the biggest pump will win.
Yeah, fair game, and the peasants who can't afford a pump should just shut up

[Rural Surin]

Probably, you'll be fine. Unless you bring these things to their attention...

[Mid]

so the house with the biggest

them's Tex's rules ..........

[benbaaa]

If he knew it might be a problem, why didn't your plumber install it right next to your tank, and away from the water meter where the water man will see it?

He's Thai.

[benbaaa]

Just a guess, maybe by adding a pump your drawing so much water from the system that it's actually reducing the pressure and supply for others.

So two showers a day and two washing machine loads a week is enough to bring the system to a halt?

[lom]

them's Tex's rules

Sure.

Tex, can you tell me how many pumps sucking with 1-2kg the water company shall dimension their piping for?
100 , 1000, or 10000 ?

[Texpat]

Yeah, fair game, and the peasants who can't afford a pump should just shut up

Right....

Sit there whining in unwashed clothes and eating off dirty dishes rubbing dirt in your unwashed hair ... because all of your selfish neighbors are sucking all the water from the main with their pumps.

Yeah, I'm apt to agree with lom. Whining would be far more effective. Maybe write a letter to the water company.

[Gerbil]

Meter ----> Pump ----> Tank ----> House = Illegal
Meter ----> Tank ----> Pump ----> House = Legal

The reasoning is to ensure that when the mains pressure is low, that other people do get at least some water from it.

[lom]

^ Of course Gerbil but individualists doesn't understand that and what effect it causes when solving a problem in the wrong way.

Sit there whining in unwashed clothes and eating off dirty dishes rubbing dirt in your unwashed hair ... because all of your selfish neighbors are sucking all the water from the main with their pumps.

Did I ever tell Benners to remove the pump or did I only tell him the reason why he has low pressure?

[benbaaa]

The tipping point was after we'd been to a friend's house for a shower one evening (yes, it got that bad), we got back home to find one neighbour washing his SUV with a hose and another watering her lawn. We didn't have enough for a shower, but they apparently had gallons to chuck around.

So, next question: how do you disguise a water pump that's sitting about a yard from the meter. We're thinking about a large dustbin with a big hole cut in the bottom and a lid on top.

[Mid]

So two showers a day and two washing machine loads a week is enough to bring the system to a halt?

if ya want all that water in ten minutes yes .

not baggin you , most likely do same , just 'splaining ..........

[Mid]

how do you disguise a water pump that's sitting about a yard from the meter.

get the gentleman who installed it to come back and move it

[Mid]

We didn't have enough for a shower, but they apparently had gallons to chuck around.

bigger storage tanks ......................

[benbaaa]

The reasoning is to ensure that when the mains pressure is low, that other people do get at least some water from it.

Before we fitted the pump, when the mains pressure was low, we got virtually none. Now we get enough for normal household consumption, ie bills about 120B/ month.

(We've found out that some of our neighbours' bills are topping 1,000B a month, 'cos they do catering for weddings, etc, and have a lot of washing up to do every day).

[Texpat]

Brilliant disguise Clouseau.



What about the pumping sound? Maybe throw a few cats in the mix.

Or relocate the pump out back by the tank ...

[Whiteshiva]

How is the pump controlled - water level in storage tank?

[benbaaa]

How is the pump controlled - water level in storage tank?

Yup. When the level drops below about 80%, the pump starts up and fills it up again. Then it cuts out.

[Thetyim]

Half inch supply for domestic use is about 5 baht sqm
One inch supply for industrial use is about 11 baht sqm.

I think the meter reader will ignore your pump for domestic usage

[blackgang]

Meter ----> Pump ----> Tank ----> House = Illegal Meter ----> Tank ----> Pump ----> House = Legal The reasoning is to ensure that when the mains pressure is low, that other people do get at least some water from it.

I did buy a 700 L algae free tank and pump when I moved into this rental, had very low pressure and shut off daily at around 2030, so had this put in as Gerbil says, cost very little in labor and maybe 11 K in baht, now when I open a valve I get plenty of flow, infact the Bum gun is god damn near a magnum now and will lift you off the shitter. Gets off all the new and some of the old.

But the main reason for it supposed to be Meter, tank, and then pump is not because of if they give a fuck if anyone gets any water or not or they would fix it,, but do not care for a full vacuum suck on their cheap, crappy , older than Christ system and are afraid that a perfect vacuum when applied by a few pumps will cause damage fuck up their pipes and suck all kinds of shit into their 50% water/50% chlorine system.

IMHO,, I just can not see where they care about correct supply to anyone.