saw something to do with bicycles any ideas.

-- jj (Joe@here.bye), September 02, 1999

Answers

How about solar panels? I've got the same situation and am investigating it also.

Saw this and bookmarked it - go to www.watergopher.com. Interesting.

-- Mom (Mom@123.456), September 03, 1999.

1. Both Lehmans (www.lehmans.com) and Cumberland General (www.cumberlandgeneral.com) have hand pumps that will draw water up to 170 feet.

2. Both also have well buckets.

3. Countryside magazine carried a series of articles on water. These included one on how to build your own well bucket, using mainly PVC pipe and fittings. Check old issues (probably around last December or this January). May be available at the library, or look on line -- http://www.countrysidemag.com/

4. Don't think you'll run a shower from one of these. You can draw water, heat it, and take a bath. Many people would pump from the deep well and use a holding tank.

5. As noted above, you can always use a solar pump. These work slowly -- and only when the sun shines, so they require a holding tank. Pump when the sun is shining, use water when it's not. Basically, these are 12 or 24 vdc pumps that run directly from the solar panels........the basic pump costs about as much as a normal deep well pump and would be the way to go if you were starting a new system. Expensive if you have no use for the old 240 vac pump.

-- de (delewis@inetone.net), September 03, 1999.

Well first you get a really long straw.....no seriously, there are well buckets for sale that fit your casing, (I can't seem to locate the URL) that have trapdoors on the bottom. You pull your pump and simply drop the bucket down the casing. Be sure you have enough rope attached to it first....; )

gettin' a drink...

The Dog

-- Dog (Desert Dog@-sand.com), September 03, 1999.

Is the water level at at 150' or is that the well depth? My well depth is 100' but the water level stands out 20'. Big difference.

-- Lumber Jack (johnsellis@webtv.net), September 03, 1999.

Why not just plug your electric pump into a generator?

An average well (five gal per minute) would give you 300 gal into storage in just an hours time.

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), September 03, 1999.

Why not just plug your electric pump into a generator?

An average well (five gal per minute) would give you 300 gal into storage in just an hours time.

-- tc (trashcan-man@webtv.net), September 03, 1999.

Had this link in my Favorite Places - it is bicycle driven rope pump - Hope its what you were looking for - http://forums.cosmoaccess.net/forum/survival/prep/library2/ropepump.ht m

-- New Kid on the Block (BetterGetPrepped@aol.com), September 04, 1999.

jj,

I posted an answer to a similar question a few weeks ago. We published some articles in a couple of issues of Coming Home this summer on how to set up a homestead water system -- cistern, 12 volt pump, rain catchment, and -- the point of this posting -- how to build a deep well pump out of PVC & check valves for about $50. This is what we use. It works. It is similar to all the $500 -$600 newfangled pumps you see advertised on the net. The same principles involved. Just a lot cheaper to do it yourself.

The issues in question are the May/June & July/August 1999 issues of Coming Home. Details on how to intstall. Diagram. Hints to make the job easier.

$8 for both issues, from Coming Home, PO Box 187, Canmer, KY 42722.

Sorry this sounds like an ad. I guess it is, but then again I don't know where else you can find this info. Thanks.

Jim E

-- Jim E (erskine@scrtc.com), September 04, 1999.

JimE: Do you by any chance have a phone number for that magazine or a website? Thanks

-- LauraA (Laadedah@aol.com), September 04, 1999.

Laura,

Well, the magazine is us. That is, we publish it. Don't have a web site yet. Phone number is 270-528-3956, but we aren't set up to take credit card orders.

Jim E

-- Jim E (erskine@scrtc.com), September 04, 1999.

TRY setting up a 12v or 24v DC system. Probably around 4x 80-Watt solar panels and a storage battery (or bank of batteries) to run your 12 or 24v pump. You might save $$$ by using a 12v DC marine/boating bilge pump, but I don't think it would have the grunt required. At least this way, if Y2K lasts a loooong time, you don't have to worry about running out of petrol (gas) for the generator! Good luck!

-- David Harvey (vk2dmh@hotmail.com), September 07, 1999.