Hand Pumps
Anyone looking to live sustainably needs to find a water source. As many don't live near a lake or a river, the next best option is pumping from an aquifer. A well is installed, which involves a hole being dug through the earth to the water source and running a pipe from the source to the well. Water or well pumps help bring the water to the surface for the user.
Typically, these pumps are electric, continuously pumping water from the aquifer to the surface through a motor. Nevertheless, when a power outage occurs, the owner needs to have a backup plan, and, in this case, hand water pumps will help bring water up when the electric pump no longer works.
All hand pumps use a piston, diaphragm, or rotary valve principle with a check valve on entry and exit points. For most well hand pumps, the handle is attached to the piston, which is forced down the cylinder. When the piston is pulled back up, the water comes with it and then flows out of the pump's faucet. Generally, they operate with a lever or flywheel mechanism, as the weight of the water when drawn from a distance is often too heavy to be lifted directly. Such hand pumps can be used for shallow and deep wells, as one can pump water from a distance of 15 to 80 meters. Additionally, the area between the pump and the well needs to be sealed completely to prevent any contamination of the water.
Although most hand water pumps are considered a backup to a traditional electric model, one can be modified to include a motor. Simple Pump, a manufacturer of manual hand pumps for wells, allows many of their products to be converted into motorized designs. A manual hand pump can have a one-fifth horsepower motor attached, and this will operate through 12 to 15 volts of DC or solar power. The latter uses a 180 watt panel for electricity.
Hand water pumps bring water to the surface at five gallons per minute. No matter if you use one as your regular pump or as a backup, it's an efficient solution for providing you and your family with clean water.
