Pumps & Wells
Types of Groundwater Wells
Where does my drinking water come from? This is a question we hear and answer every day. To keep it simple, there are two main geologic units that we extract our groundwater from: (1) overburden (sand and gravel) deposits, and (2) bedrock. Wells in sand and gravel deposits are typically shallow (less than 40 feet) and maybe referred to as dug wells, point wells, spring wells and screened wells. Groundwater flows through the spaces (pore space) in the sand and gravel materials and into the well. For bedrock wells water flows through the fractures/cracks in the rock and into the open borehole of the well. The above schematic shows the difference of where water originates from and how it gets to the well. For any well, you must have saturated zone below the water table from which water is extracted. When you turn your pump on, the water level drops. The depth to which the water level drops is dependent on the amount of water you are pumping and the recharge capacity (the ability of water to flow through) of the surrounding geologic material.
Whichever type of well is your water source, knowing the amount of water that you can extract (well yield) is very important. A good rule of thumb is to be able to pump 3-5 gallons per minute (gpm) over a 4 hour period. And to have the water level in the well recover to the pre-pumping within 2 hours so that you can repeat the 4 hours pumping period. However, demands of each household is different dependent on the number of persons in the home and the amount of outdoor water use.
Well Pump Installation & Service
Jet Pumps
Oftentimes when a small shallow well is involved, a jet pump is the best solution. Jet pumps rely on atmospheric pressure to function, and as a result, they are typically only used for wells that are no deeper than 25 feet. Jet pumps work by creating a vacuum. They force water through a small opening, called a jet, which creates a pressure imbalance. The pressure imbalance creates a suction force that “pulls” water up to the surface.
Well Pumps Submersible Pumps
Submersible pumps are great for use in wells and work by pushing water up towards the surface. Submersible pumps are much more efficient than above-ground pumps. Above-ground pumps work by pulling water up from beneath the surface, and they often suffer from a problem called cavitation. Cavitation can cause damage to the internal parts of an above-ground water pump, and after a while it will need to be repaired or replaced. Submersible pumps don’t suffer from cavitation, and experience fewer mechanical problems than above-ground pumps. They also need a lot less energy to push water upward then an above-ground pump needs to “pull” water from below. Submersible pumps use centrifugal force to create pressure that then forces water upward.
Interested in a Well Pump?
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Vortech Pump and Well proudly offers Well Pump Installation for the Nanaimo, Ladysmith, Cedar and Cowichan Valley areas.
1981 15HP – 150GPM Farm irrigation pump replacement.
Check out our new Pump Puller!
This unit is incredibly powerful and capable of pulling pumps to a maximum 600ft depth. The real benefit however is that this unit is portable allowing us to get into those tight well head locations the crane trucks often cannot access as well preventing lawn and yard damage due to the heavier rigs.
We pack this little red fella on our main service van so when needed we’re ready to go with no delays or downtime while waiting for crane services.
Deep well pump installation using the mobile crane service. This was a 400ft well delivering 10GPM. The service includes full installation and wiring requirements and will be follwed up with water treatment equipment.
50 GPM deep well pump installation for the municipality installed with 4″ stainless steel pipe. This well is capable of producing 400 GPM and the system had been designed to accommodate 200 + homes.
Installation of a Nextsand filter, Manganese greensand filter and water softener system. A final Trojan D4 ultra violet system has been installed to assure a polished and purified water.
Constant Pressure Systems
Loosing pressure or pressure fluctuations in your home is nothing short of frustrating. Pressure tanks have been the choice for decades however in the last decade constant pressure systems have become very popular, allowing for even and “constant” pressure throughout your home thus eliminating fluctuations and allowing multiple fixtures to run at the same time.
Vortech Pump and Well has been installing this system now for years on both new applications as well changing existing pressure tank systems. Pentek, Franklin & Grundfos are our supplier choices
If you require well or water treatment services in the Cowichan Valley, Saltspring Island, Quadra Island or the Nanaimo area, give us a call. With 24hr emergency standby we’ll make sure your never without water for long.
Give Vortech Pump and Well a Call: 250 746 0706
TROUBLESHOOTING WELL AND WATER PROBLEMS: SOME COMMON QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A – There may be several reasons why water is not delivered from a well. First check your breaker box to see if the breaker is tripped. You should call Vortech Plumbing to check the pump and pump control equipment, which may have failed. The pump installer can also check the water level in the well. Overuse of the aquifer may have dropped the groundwater level below the depth of your well.
A – Over time minerals or bacteria can constrict your water well screen or your water system pump or piping. Overuse or seasonal lack of recharge of the aquifer can also cause the groundwater level to drop and thus decrease the amount of water that can enter the well. We can check your pump, piping and water level. We can also measure the yield of your well and compare it to the yield when the well was originally drilled.
A – The pressure in your water system is regulated by a pressure tank so that the pump does not have to be run every time there is demand for water. The tank has an air bladder in it that can rupture. Call us at 250 746 0706 to check the pressure tank.
A – Your well water has gas dissolved in it. This gas may be harmless air or carbon dioxide. It may also be methane. Have the water tested by a laboratory to determine what the gas is and whether or not a treatment system is necessary.