Thread: Do I need a storage tank

New here, read alot and learned alot already. Thanks!

What I haven't been able to get straight is do I need a storage tank or a larger pressure tank or both?

Current condition: 50' well 600' from house with 200' rise, produces 5gpm. 3/4hp pump and a wellxtrol pressure tank.. maybe 20 gallons?

Desired condition: Be able to have two people showering at one time (at least) and be able to handle a toilet flush

Is this possible?

I'm not the expert on cisterns, but with only 5 gpm and I assume that is before friction losses etc, you may need a cistern and a second pump.

The other guys will chime in and tell you what is involved with that.

bob...


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Five Gallons a minute is less than a normal hose bib will produce, so I say yes you need a Storage Tank.

Rancher

So where would I find more information on storage tank setup? I would want this to be in the basement I suppose. What would a setup look like with storage and a pressure tank? The only storage tanks I have located seem much too large... smallest was 300 gallons, I would think more like 100 gallon?

Would just a large pressure tank get me very far?

When you say "produces 5 gpm", what does that actually mean? Do you get only 5 gpm at the house, or does the well recover at 5 gpm?

Gary
Quality Water Associates
www.qualitywaterassociates.com
Softener Forum

The well pumps sustained 5gpm at the well head. No idea what that equals at the house 600' away and 200' uphill.

It will mean less than 5 gpm for sure. So I agree, a storage tank is necessary.

I would think you would want a tank large enough to supply water to last one full days worth of showering, cloths washing etc.

bob...


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How big a tank would that be? I don't have room for a huge one. I know a days water is probably like 300 gals for 4 people but would a 100 gallon tank be enough? Morning is high demand of course but it would have all day to fill back up...@ 5gpm it would take only 20 minutes to fill

If that's all the room you have and you can't put one outside, I suppose it would have to do. You would have to put a low level float in line with the jockey pump to protect it when the tank gets low.

bob...


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quote: The well pumps sustained 5gpm at the well head.

A.... what do you mean by "pumps sustained 5 gpm"?

IF you are saying the pump puts out only 5 gpm at the well, I think you need a properly sized pump instead of a tank. A 5 gpm pump, regardless of the hp, will put out many more than 5 gpm open discharge at the well. So how, and where, was this 5 gpm measured? Or do you only know you have a 3/4 hp 5 gpm pump?

A 3/4 hp 5 gpm pump is not going to do well IMO with 200' elevation from the well and 600' away from the house; especially if the house were two story. I think you have the wrong pump. It's at least marginal IMO. What type pipe material (IE sch 40 10 or 20' lengths) do you have for the 600' distance?

Gary
Quality Water Associates
www.qualitywaterassociates.com
Softener Forum