![]() |
|
|
|
Registered
|
Home water systems experts - advice needed please
My neighbor's water well "collapsed" according to their plumber. The water they get is full of air, muddy, and pressure is almost non-existent.
My garage is about 100 feet from a sill bib on their house. Can I (or should I) run a garden hose from my system to the sill bib so they can have minimal water, for toilet flushing,etc? I figure if I close the gate valve at the exit from their pressure tank, then their house plumbing will just be an extension of mine. Is there something here I'm not seeing, or will this scheme work? Neighbors have 3 kids with another on in the way in 2 months. They are kind of desperate. Mrs WD and I took them a 5 gallon jug of drinking water, but they need more.
__________________
. |
||
![]() |
|
Detached Member
Join Date: May 2003
Location: southern California
Posts: 26,964
|
I guess it would work, I'd consider putting in a vacuum break at your house, like you may have if you have an in-ground sprinkler system.
__________________
Hugh |
||
![]() |
|
Bollweevil
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Fulshear, Texanistan
Posts: 3,361
|
I did the exact thing for my neighbor a couple of years ago when his well collapsed. Just need to use the largest diameter hose you have. We just closed the valve at his pressure tank, hooked up the hose to the bibs at his/my house and turned on both faucets. He used this for 2-3 days with no problems.
__________________
Jack 74 911 Coupe 2.7L - K21 Option - S suspension |
||
![]() |
|
Band.
|
+1 just buy a "hose thread backflow preventer" at HD and you should be fine
__________________
1983 SC Coupe 1963 BMW R60/2 1972 Triumph Tiger 1995 Triumph Daytona SuperIII |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
^^ This and you are good to go.
__________________
2009 Cayman PDK With a few tweaks 2021 Cayman GTS 4.0L 2021 Macan (dog hauler) |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: So. Cal.
Posts: 9,103
|
If they are going to have to have the well cleaned out and maybe drilled down farther, it may be a good idea for them to have a gravel sleeve put in when they do that.
__________________
Marv Evans '69 911E |
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Slackerous Maximus
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Columbus, OH
Posts: 18,162
|
Only thing is that the new hose bibs have back flow preventers. Not sure his house will let the water in...
__________________
2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor. 2012 Harley Davidson Road King 2014 Triumph Bonneville T100. 2014 Cayman S, PDK. Mercedes E350 family truckster. |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
a noble gesture,
doable but communication will be key. arrange shower/washing times. as everyone else has stated, don't contaminate your own source. you will make a friend for life
__________________
Chris the more i learn, the less i know |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
Thanks. That's something to consider. The house is 25 years old. I don't know if back flow preventers were code back then. Something to check out.
__________________
. |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: NJ
Posts: 1,186
|
We did this for our neighbor when their water main turned into a fountain in the front yard. It worked for for both houses. We did coordinate showering but even that wasn't much of a problem. You just got reduced pressure
__________________
2013 991.1 Carrera S Cab 2004 996 Turbo CAB X50 sold 2003 996 cab 6 speed Sold 1972 RS 3.2 twin plug short stroke crank fire, roll bar, sold DE instructor since 1985 |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
The verdict on their well is that it is junk. It is only 40 feet deep. The rest of the wells in our area are 80. It will take two weeks to get a driller out here to drill it down deeper. So, they are all hooked up to my system. Got a back flow preventer and made the final connection with a washing machine hose. That hose with it's little 3/8 ID isn't going to let them use enough water to stress my system, and I don't hear my pump running much, so I think we're good to go for the next two weeks.
Thank you all for the advice. Took them a big pot of pasole yesterday and I'm making a massive Manfood Casserole for them tomorrow. I forgot how much food three kids can go through.
__________________
. |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Lawrenceville GA 30045
Posts: 7,377
|
WD - that's being a great neighbor!
__________________
Mark '83 SC Targa - since 5/5/2001 '06 911 S Aerokit - from 5/2/2016 to 11/14/2018 '11 911 S w/PDK - from 7/2/2021 to ??? |
||
![]() |
|
![]() |
Registered
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: SE Pa.
Posts: 1,222
|
So long as there is a check between their pressure tank and well (or their pump check/foot valve is still working) they should be able to still use their pressure tank. You may want to recalibrate air pressure to match your pump. Then they will have a more or less normal flow in their home. That should minimize flow demand through the hose, as it will just balance pressure.
My Dad and his best friend build lake houses side by side in the 60's. Their place was supplied by our well through a 1/2" copper pipe for decades with no issues.
__________________
1981 911 SC 2013 Mini Cooper JCW 2017 GMC K1500 |
||
![]() |
|
Bland
|
Just make sure you don't run your well dry. Otherwise, go ahead.
__________________
06 Cayenne Turbo S and 11 Cayenne S 77 911S Wide Body GT2 WCMA race car 86 930 Slantnose - featured in Mar-Apr 2016 Classic Porsche Sold: 76 930, 90 C4 Targa, 87 944, 06 Cayenne Turbo, 73 911 ChumpCar endurance racer - featured in May-June & July-Aug 2016 Classic Porsche |
||
![]() |
|
Bland
|
And kudos for being a great neighbor.
__________________
06 Cayenne Turbo S and 11 Cayenne S 77 911S Wide Body GT2 WCMA race car 86 930 Slantnose - featured in Mar-Apr 2016 Classic Porsche Sold: 76 930, 90 C4 Targa, 87 944, 06 Cayenne Turbo, 73 911 ChumpCar endurance racer - featured in May-June & July-Aug 2016 Classic Porsche |
||
![]() |
|
Registered
|
Quote:
__________________
. |
||
![]() |
|
Brew Master
|
Hard to do without chlorinating your well the way you're going about this but I'd suggest they chlorinate their lines and tank just in case any contaminants got in their lines. Wouldn't want the kids or 7 months pregnant wife getting sick from contaminated lines.
You could probably shutdown your home from the system, add chlorine to the well and then pump the chlorinated water to their home and through the lines (bypass any softener) and once the chlorine dissipates reopen your home lines. Last edited by cabmandone; 04-20-2017 at 04:59 PM.. |
||
![]() |
|