Suggestions for well pump setup

[MtShawn2]

I have been looking through this forum a bit.  Tons of good information here!  Anyhow, my shallow well went dry, and the state DEQ regs don’t really allow me to do much with it.  On my property there is a much deeper well that has never been used.  It is about 750’ from my house.  The well report from about 15 years ago says this…
550 ft deep.
Static level 450
8 inch casing to 510 ft
6 inch casing 510- 550ft
Yield 10gpm

I have a local pump outfit coming out this week to drop a camera down and see if the well still has the same water level.  There have been a lot of wells punched around here in the last 15 years. 

My rough plan is to use a solar powered pump to pump from the well then around 750’  into a 2000 gallon cistern to be located close to the house.  I was thinking of something like a grundfos sq flex.  They have a couple models that should fit the bill.  We do get temps well below freezing here, with below zero not being unusual.  As such, I would like to bury all of the piping and cistern about 3-4’.  Getting the water into the house and pressurized is my next issue.  What do you folks recommend?   Something that could be run off solar would be nice, but not critical, as the house is connected to the grid.  Being able to run the pressure pump off of a smaller Honda generator (1800 watts) during a power outage would be desirable.  I could be convinced to use a submersible pump in the cistern, or something surface mounted in the heated garage if it was not too noisy.  I’m looking for something that works real good, and lasts a long time with minimal maintenance.  Thanks for any suggestions you may have.

The house is single story, 2 bathrooms, 5 people.  The water will not be used for irrigation.

[Cary Austin]

I think you will spend a lot more for a solar pump than for all the energy ever used for a long lasting regular AC pump.  Without irrigation the electric bill for a house pump is only about 5 bucks a month.  I would not go solar except for backup in emergencies like when the grid is down.  Even then a generator is more reliable.

If the well really makes 10 GPM you don't need a storage tank and booster pump.  You can pump directly from the well.  Something like a 1.5HP, 7 GPM pump with a PK1A and a 10 gallon tank is all you need.

I would have the well company drop in a 1.5HP, 7 GPM pump instead of a camera.  It will probably cost about the same.  However, if the well makes 10 GPM like it says, you would be ready to add the PK1A with the 10 gallon tank and have all the water you need.

[MtShawn2]

Thank you such for the quick reply.  I was thinking that the cost for running 750 ft of wire to the pump from the house was going to be expensive  and for the cost of the wire and conduit I could have water even when the power went out, without dragging the generator across the field.  Our power does go out a couple of times a summer, but usually not for too long.  Couple hours usually.  With a cistern, that wouldn't be an issue.
 Perhaps I'm far overestimating the cost of wire!   

[Cary Austin]

Wire is a good investment because it never wears out.  You will need batteries with a solar system, as the sun doesn't shine everyday, but you need water everyday.  A cistern will require a booster pump of some kind.  A generator or batteries are needed to run the booster pump for times when the power is off.  A cistern might have 2-3 days of water if you want to risk it without batteries or a generator for that, but you will need something for the boost pump.  Plus, a cistern means you are using two pumps, where the well pump could do the job by itself.  Number 6 wire would go 1200-1300 feet and supply a 1.5HP.  But you might be better off running #4 to the well head and #8 down the well.

If the well doesn't make enough water you have no choice but a cistern.  But a 10 GPM well gives you the option.