Help needed to improve my 'cluster fukk' of a water system

[CharleyFarley]

We have 2 houses on 5 rai of land with a community water supply and also a 11 metre well. The well water is sucked up with a Luckystar Electric Well pump

Specification : Model ls 252EA
Power source 220v 50 Hz
Suction lift Max 9m
Discharge head 14m
Capacity 34l/min [at] total head 9m
Pressure switch ON 1.6Kg cm2
Off 2.4 Kg cm2
Suction Discharge pipe 25mm (1")

Stupidly we didn't install a water tank when building, so now I have moved 2 cement water jars to provide our own water when 'Naam ma lay' which is often.


What type of pump is required to suck water out of these jars and provide good pressure to all outlets in both houses ?

The jars are located immediately behind the house on a ground level concrete base?

[lom]

What type of pump is required to suck water out of these jars and provide good pressure to all outlets in both houses ?

An automatic house pump with pressure tank, ITC, Mitsubishi and Hitachi are well known brand names.
Your nearest HomePro or a well assorted hardware shop will have them.
For a 2 house setup I would choose a 250-300 Watt model.

The jars are located immediately behind the house on a ground level concrete base?

You should know if they are.

[Thetyim]

What type of pump is required to suck water out of these jars and provide good pressure to all outlets in both houses ?

Single or two storey houses ?
How many faucets are you likely to run at the same time?

[CharleyFarley]

The first one is one and the second one two

Never more than me having a shower and the missus doing the dishes. So 3 at the most when we have guests.

There are several standpipes in the garden but they would not be used when the mains water is not available.

By the way the well water has that funny iron smell to it and we only use it for emergency showers and watering the plants.

Hehehe Lom.

It's crackers really, we have a huge lake/reservoir just 2Km away, 3 large ponds, an 11 metre well and community water, yet sometimes we're struggling to fill the kettle.

[DrAndy]

I am not sure of your problem!

why not build a water tank to pump into, then fit filtration to remove the iron

we have that system and it works well, the water being good enough to drink

if you use the well water for anything in the house, you will get serious iron staining

[CharleyFarley]

The problem simply put is that each system we have at the moment is unsatisfactory, despite we being able to combine the two through valves, we need a constant supply of usable water when the mains supply is unavailable. It does not need to be filtered for drinking as we only use it for washing - dishes, clothes & bodies.

The rain water we harvest into the cement jars ( 1600 litres ) will suffice for those periods when mains water is off, normally caused by some prat getting over eager with his hoe or some lorry driver going where he shouldn't go and busting blue pipes.

[Norton]

The problem simply put is that each system we have at the moment is unsatisfactory

Sounds like it's back to the drawing board. Integrate all your water supply into one system.

Andy's approach is what I have done.

Mains to filter, then to tank, pump, and house. I have an underground plastic holding tank. Mains can be off for 2 or 3 days before we use all the water in the tank.

If you want to collect rainwater, you could have the water go directly to the tank. Tank will have to be lower than roof rain gutter and near to gutter down pipe.

An automatic house pump with pressure tank, ITC, Mitsubishi and Hitachi are well known brand names. Your nearest HomePro or a well assorted hardware shop will have them. For a 2 house setup I would choose a 250-300 Watt model.

This should do the job.

[Thetyim]

Never more than me having a shower and the missus doing the dishes. So 3 at the most when we have guests.

I concur with LOM then

[thehighlander959]

A question guys: I am building another house I also have had problems with water supply can someone give me the name of a very good quality filter system?

Mains to Filter then to tank to Hitachi WMP 280GP Pump and then to house.
Thanx guys

[Nawty]

How many litres does the average family home go through per day of water ??

[the dogcatcher]

And for how long is the mains water usually off.

[Norton]

name of a very good quality filter system?

All sorts of them. Stainless steel or PVC materials used for cylinder. Check at Homepro or other large hardware shops. A single cylinder carbon filter will do to remove smell and discolored water. This is what I have. The filter is a cylinder about a meter high and 20 cm diameter, filled with activated carbon. We do not drink the water but use for showers, washing, etc.

How many litres does the average family home go through per day of water ??

Lots of showers per day at my place. We have a 1,000 liter tank and have yet to run out of water even when water supply has been off for 3 or 4 days.

[the dogcatcher]

Mine is, Mains to 700 lts tank with auto shut off when full, though filter which actually is a home brew with a pair of stockings. Then pump fed from bottom of tank. Pump Hitachi GP 130. Just enough for house with 1 kitchen and 2 hong nams. In the afternoons we get free hot showers from the sun. Bugger if you want a cold one though.

[DrAndy]

I am building another house I also have had problems with water supply can someone give me the name of a very good quality filter system?

why do you need a filter? mud, chemicals, iron...?

[thehighlander959]

^
Thanks Dr. Andy,
We have very badly discoloured Mains water, I am not sure what the water problem but now that you have asked my sister-in-law is a nurse at the local hospital I will get a sample and have it tested.

[Norton]

We have very badly discoloured Mains water,

Yellow here and has bad odor. Carbon filter sorts it out. If you have a lot of particulate you will need a silca filter (like swimming pool) as well.

Test will likely show bacteria but unless you intend to drink the tap water will cause no problems.