Hand Pump on an Artesian Well?

[Todd Heyn]

I am in the process of buying a small homestead in upstate NY that has an artesian well on the property. The well already has an electric well pump installed but I would like to add in a hand pump along side the electric pump in case the power goes down.

I already have a Bison deep well pump at our cabin in Northern NY but i do not want to spend another $750+ for a deep well pump when I do not need its pumping capacity.

What would you recommend? Is there a way to utilize the positive pressure that the well offers to safely continue to use the water for the house as well as an outside water feature?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

[offtheradar]

I see no problem as long as you put isolation valves on the pumps. I would put a check valve on the suction side of the electric pump (between it and the well). I would put a gate valve on the suction side of the hand pump. If the electricity went out just open up the gate valve and start pumping, or let the water flow from a positive head well.

[offgridbob]

When my folks were alive they had an Artesian well that had so much pressure they had to find a way to reduce the pressure. They could run 10 sprinkler heads all day long without any drop in water or pressure. I wish I could bring it over to my homestead.

[CarolAnn]

Todd,
Depending on the pressure, you've got something valuable there; you might even be able to generate electricity with a Pelton wheel and still use the water any way you need to!

[oswego]

You are very fortunate. I had an Artesian well at one of my old places,I miss it bigtime.

[annabella1]

The girl scout camp I went to when I was a girl had an artesian well It had only a hand pump, but you didn't have to pump it just lift the handle and water under pressure would pour out sometimes it was hard to get the handle down to close it off.