You can avoid many water well problems with a little forethought and planning – including the potentially serious effects of power outages.
When the utility grid goes down, so will your well pump – and that means your household will be stuck without any water until the electricity comes back on.
Fortunately, as water well problems go, a lack of electricity for the pump is a relatively easy issue to handle. These are some of the most effective ways to make sure your family has water during extended power outages.
Use an Alternate Water Well Power Source
A small portable gas or diesel-powered generator can keep your pump working in the event of a power outage. However, be sure to choose one that’s rated to provide the electricity your pump needs – otherwise, you could end up with damage to your well system equipment.
Solar panels or a wind turbine can also work as an alternate power source for your well pump. Going off the grid is a must, though. For safety reasons, renewable energy sources connected to the utility grid don’t produce electricity during power outages.
Bring Up Well Water Manually
An old-fashioned hand pump can supply your household with water when the electricity goes out. Some models are only effective for shallow well systems, but other manual pumps can work with deeper wells.
You could also use a sleeve bucket. These slim plastic or metal buckets feature a special valve for automatic filling, and the cording can be attached to a tripod, pulley or hoist to easily bring up the well water.
Install a Water Well Retention Tank
Another option is to add a bulk storage or retention tank to your well system. This type of tank operates through the use of gravity – not electricity – so it won’t be affected if the utility grid goes down.
However, the size of the retention tank will dictate how long the supply will last. A local well services contractor can help you choose a bulk storage tank that meets your household needs.
Keeping Your Water Supply Safe
Extended power outages can strike at any time, and preparation is key to ensure your family has the water they need. Until you have an alternate method of accessing your well water in place, plan on storing enough to last three days or more — at least three gallons for each household member.
When the electricity comes back on, you’ll need to leave the taps running for a few minutes to ensure the water is safe to use. Flood-related power outages can create contamination problems, and any discoloration or odor indicates the need for professional testing and treatment.
Is your water well system ready handle power outages? Planning ahead is easy with the Z-Team at Mike Zimmerman Well Service LLC. We can offer expert advice on how to make sure your household always has a safe supply of water.
As leading water well service contractors in the Intermountain West region for over 30 years, the Z-Team has the expertise to provide effective solutions for power outages. If you live in Utah or Wyoming and want to avoid having water well problems when the utility grid goes down, contact our Salt Lake City office to schedule a consultation today.
