What are the Parts of a Water Well and Pump System?
By Don Adams
Adams Well Drilling
It’s best to think of a water well as a complete system. There are numerous working parts beginning at ground level down to the groundwater aquifer and up to the delivery infrastructure servicing your residential or commercial property.
Your water well will not work properly if it’s not constructed properly and with quality assurance. In the worst case, the well will deliver poor quality water that may be unhealthy for consumption. So it’s best to have an experienced water well drilling and pump installation professional tackle each part of the process.
What are those working parts?
5 Main Components of a Safe and Reliable Water Well System
1. Well Casing
After the well is drilled in the right location and down to the proper depth, a well casing is inserted into the hole. This casing is a carbon-steel pipe — or a series of interconnected pipes — sometimes extending several hundred feet into an underground aquifer. The casing maintains the well opening. Once installed, it’s cemented or filled with grout around the circumference to further seal any empty spaces between the casing and hole. This ensures no outside dirt, geological elements or other contaminants can make their way into your water supply. The well casing also restricts the groundwater to its location for future delivery.
2. Well Cap
The cap seals the well from any contaminants above ground. It must be installed and sealed correctly to the portion of the well casing that extends above the ground. It ensures disease-causing microbes, debris, insects and even small animals can’t enter the well. The best way for a secure seal is to bolt the cap down snugly so it can’t be easily or accidentally removed. It should be removed only by a professional for routine and ongoing maintenance.
3. Pump
The pump draws the water from the well. Thank amazing advances in technology for the fact that you no longer have to pull water up with a bucket. It’s important to select the pump that will supply your average daily needs in both water head pressure and volume per minute. Anything short will leave you and your property thirsting for water — literally and figuratively — especially during peak usage times. In the household market, there are two types: submersible and jet pumps. Submersible pumps are typically best for deeper wells. Jet pumps are often the right choice for shallow wells no more than 25 feet deep. Work with your experienced water well professional to determine which pump will provide the most consistent and reliable water volume and pressure. Here at Adams Well Drilling, we proudly use only American-made pumps by Goulds Water Technology – a Xylem brand, the leading technology in water wells.
4. Pitless Adapter
The pitless adapter begins the water-delivery infrastructure to the point of consumption. It forms a sanitary seal between the well casing and water service line, or water main. Here in Western New York, where winter seems to last half the year, we take special care to install these below the frost line. If this critical seal is broken, you may experience water quality and contamination issues. An experienced contractor will install the pitless adapter securely for a seal that lasts many years.
5. Pressure Tank
The pressure tank is a critical component of your delivery infrastructure. It stores well water under pressure to relieve unnecessary strain on the pump. Without a pressure tank, the pump would be forced to kick on and supply sufficient water every time a tap is turned. Considering the sometimes lengthy distances and optional treatment and heating processes your water must travel through, relying on the pump alone would be unrealistic or downright impossible. An average residential water tank serving a family of two to four people will hold between 20 and 80 gallons of pressurized water at a time.
Have a Professional Install Your Water Well and Pump System the Right Way
A quality water well and pump system is a big piece of infrastructure. The interconnected equipment, installed correctly, should serve your property with safe, clean water for years with minimal ongoing maintenance. Trust the experienced professionals at Adams Well Drilling to do it right for you. Call (585) 968-3923 for a free consultation.
