Water wells

[romany123]

I couldn't find a forum dealing with water wells, so hopefully if I am in the wrong place one of the moderators will move it to the appropriate place


We are fortunate enough in our gardens to have a water well, everything is intact the only thing is not working is the hand pump, due to the leather having worn out. Anybody know where you can get replacement leathers?
We personally have never used the well, as up to this time we have been too busy renovating the rest of the house.

Last week I opened up the flap and dropped down a Lead line. 2 m down it's the start of the stream which is about 2 m in depth before touching the bottom.
I want to use this for pumping water into the garden, but also had an idea that the water flow may be sufficient to turn a small generator (the sort of generator that yachts going at six to seven knots tow behind them to charge up their batteries, this in turn could charge a battery that would run a small electric pump on a timer to do the watering for me.

So the question is how can I measure the water flow? And has anybody any other ideas?

[Jack]

Gidday

Sorry mate but I reckon there will be no way you can run a generator from a well.

As for the pump, if you can't find a leather cut one outa an old boot. I have done that in my distant past with no real problems.

[romany123]

Hi Jack

The stream that runs under our ground runs downhill to the sea. In my estimate it should be running at least 6 knots about the same speed as out cruising boat under sail, we can buy a small towing generator for that that may do the trick....I need to investigate further.

[Jack]

Gidday

Well bess-a-ma-soul. You mean to say you can see the water running at 6 knots in your well.

[romany123]

Nop

But as we are only about 500 m from the sea, and there is a 12 m drop to sea level (I can see it out of my window as I type) I guess providing, that, if Newton’s theory on gravity is correct, it should be moving at a reasonable rate of knots.

[romany123]

For anybody else interested in this thread
This was the sort of thing I was thinking of.
They also do a smaller model

Aquair 100 Hybrid Wind & Water Generator
Towed turbine generator for yachts, with wind conversion kit
The most effective means of generating electricity to recharge 12v/24v batteries at sea.
• Generates approx. 1 amp per knot (12v) at average cruising speeds.
• Rope transmits power of spinning turbine to on-board generator.
• Gimbal mounting of generator gives fool-proof operation & long-life.
• Simple installation from stern rail - no permanent hardware. Easily rigged.
• Thousands in use worldwide. Hundreds of circumnavigations made.
• Highly suitable for use on long distance blue water cruising yachts.
• Wind turbine conversion available for use at anchor.


It should be reasonably simple, as the well is only 2 m down to be able to divert the ropes transmission power through 90°.

[Jack]

Gidday

Yeah but I don't think that Newton's theory would work the same when the water was perculating down through tons of soil.

[romany123]

The stream is two metres deep, so I think perculating, is probably not the word I would have used. It used to be the main source of water in Brightlingsea, before mains water was introduced in 1905.
But hey, I appreciate your veiws
thank you for your contribution

[possum]

I would be surprised if you could run a generator from it (though willing to be proved wrong), mainly because the power require to pump the water (manual or otherwise) has got to be more than the latent potential in the water itself (else your garden would be flooded)

[romany123]

Thank you for your comments Possum

I understand what you are saying, but the generator would be used to recharge a heavy duty battery (120 amp hours) for 24 hours a day, and then used to pump water for only a couple of hours a day at most. On my boat I use a wind generator to similar effect. My boat is kept on a Mooring for Six Months of the Year and (As It Is a Sailing Yacht and We Very Rarely Use the Engine to Generate Any Power) Relies on the Generator for All the On-Board Electronic Usage, Including the Water Pump That Supplies Our On-Board Domestic Water and Shower. Unlike a Wind Generator, I Would Assume That the Flow in the Underwater Stream Is Constant (As It Was the Towns Main Supply until the 1900s), Give or Take the Odd Drought.

Just a thought

[red]

what about a ram pump? would that be useful?

[romany123]

Red

What a great Idea, A bit like the Archimedes screw. We tend to forget about the old technology.

I appreciate your input, and will look into it.

Thank you

[romany123]

Just had a word with Green and Carter in somerset ( makers of ram pumps for 200 years) and they tell me that in order for it to work, I would have to tap off the stream.

I will keep working on it.

Thanks

[red]

if you just want it to water the garden.. it might be better to consider a solar panel charging a battery which runs a pump to bring the water up to a tank, then use gravity to do the watering when you want...
the pump could be very slow. thats ok.. its got all day... depends if you have room for a tank...

[romany123]

I think you might be right Red.
I was just trying to explore all possibilities. at least that way there are no moving parts (solar I am referring to)