Home water systems experts - advice needed please

[wdfifteen]

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.

[Hugh R]

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.

[74-911]

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.

[Gogar]

+1 just buy a "hose thread backflow preventer" at HD and you should be fine

[Cajundaddy]

Originally Posted by Gogar

+1 just buy a "hose thread backflow preventer" at HD and you should be fine

^^ This and you are good to go.

[Evans, Marv]

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.

[HardDrive]

Only thing is that the new hose bibs have back flow preventers. Not sure his house will let the water in...

[carambola]

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

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

Only thing is that the new hose bibs have back flow preventers. Not sure his house will let the water in...

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.

[FPB111]

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

[wdfifteen]

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.

[MBAtarga]

WD - that's being a great neighbor!

[Porchdog]

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.

[unclebilly]

Just make sure you don't run your well dry. Otherwise, go ahead.

[unclebilly]

And kudos for being a great neighbor.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Porchdog

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.

Their pump is laying out on their lawn and the valve between their pressure tank and the rest of their house is closed, so everything south of that valve is cut out.

[cabmandone]

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.