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The water supply of a private house is most often made from a well and a well. Pumps are used for automatic feeding. Their type and performance are selected depending on the flow of water and the height to which it needs to be raised. There are two types of private water supply systems:
- with storage tank;
- with hydraulic accumulator.
For uninterrupted water supply to a private house with a stable pressure and water supply, you can put both a storage tank and a hydraulic accumulator. This is an option for those who value comfort.
Storage tank system
The basis of such a system is a water tank, which is installed at a considerable height. If there is space, the tank is placed in the attic, if not, you can build a special tower or install it on the roof of a neighboring building. From the tank, pipes diverge throughout the house, distributing water to points of consumption.
This system works like this:
- Water from a well or well is pumped into the tank, its level is controlled by a float mechanism. When the threshold value is reached, the pump is switched off.
- Due to the fact that the storage tank is located above all points of water distribution, some pressure is created in the system. When a faucet is opened, this pressure causes water to flow to the point of distribution.
- When the water level in the tank drops below a certain level, the pump turns on, adding water.
The water supply system of a private house or cottage with a storage tank is simple and inexpensive. But there are a number of serious disadvantages:
- With such an organization of water supply, the pressure in the system is low, and even variable – it depends on the water level in the tank and the number of open taps. Because of this, no household appliances will work (automatic washing machine, electric water heater (boiler), dishwasher, autonomous heating system, etc.).
- If the automation fails, there is a real threat to flood the house with water overflowing. The danger can be reduced by making an emergency water drain system. To do this, a pipe is welded into the storage tank just above the required water level, through which, if the level rises, the excess flows out. The pipe can be taken out into the sewer or drainage system, or into the garden. But some indication is needed that there is too much water in the tank (the sound of pouring water is also one of the signals).
- The container has a solid size, and finding a place for it is not always easy. As an option – build a tower next to the house, on which to place a water tank.
If no equipment is foreseen at the dacha, you can use such a water supply scheme. But in the house, few people will be satisfied with this option. The next option will need to be considered.
Scheme with a hydraulic accumulator and a pumping station
This water supply system of a private house from a well and a well provides stable pressure, so you can connect any equipment. It is also based on a pump, but it supplies water to the accumulator, and is controlled by an automation system. If all these components are combined into one device, it is called a pumping station.
A hydraulic accumulator for water supply is an iron tank divided by an elastic membrane (rubber) into two parts. In one part, gas is pumped under a certain pressure, and water enters the second. Filling the tank with water, stretches the membrane, compressing the gas even more, which is why pressure is created in the system.
The principle of operation of the water supply system with a hydraulic accumulator is as follows:
- The pump turns on, pumps water, creating a given pressure in the system. It is controlled by sensors. There are two of them: upper and lower pressure thresholds. When the upper threshold is reached, the sensor turns off the pump.
- When a faucet is opened or water is consumed by a technique, the pressure in the system gradually decreases. When the lower threshold is reached, the second sensor gives a command to turn on the pump. Water is supplied again, leveling it.
Such an autonomous water supply system provides a higher level of comfort. But its organization requires more funds: a pumping station and a hydraulic accumulator are quite expensive devices. In addition, this equipment is more demanding on water quality (minimum impurities), which requires a good filter. There are requirements for both the pipeline (smooth inner walls) and the performance of the pump: water must be supplied constantly, without interruption. When using a well as a source of water, it must have a good debit (water must flow quickly), which is not always possible. Therefore, such schemes are more often implemented with wells.
For how to assemble a borehole pump, watch the video.
Water supply of a private house from a well and a well: pipe laying
Any of the described water supply schemes for a private house is implemented using a pump that supplies water to the house. In this case, a pipeline must be built connecting the well or well with a pumping station or storage tank. There are two options for laying pipes – only for summer use or for all-weather (winter).
When installing a summer water supply system (for summer cottages), pipes can be laid on top or in shallow ditches. At the same time, you must not forget to make a tap at the lowest point – drain the water before winter so that frozen water does not break the system in frost. Or make the system collapsible – from pipes that can be rolled up on threaded fittings – and these are HDPE pipes. Then in the fall everything can be disassembled, twisted and put into storage. Return everything in the spring.
Laying water pipes in the area for winter use requires a lot of time, effort and money. Even in the most severe frosts, they should not freeze. And there are two solutions:
- lay them below the freezing depth of the soil;
- bury shallowly, but be sure to heat or insulate (or you can do both).
deep laying
It makes sense to bury water pipes deep if it freezes no more than 1,8 m. almost a two-meter layer of soil. Previously, asbestos pipes were used as a protective shell. Today there is also a plastic corrugated sleeve. It is cheaper and lighter, it is easier to lay pipes in it and give it the desired shape.
Although this method requires a lot of labor, it is used because it is reliable. In any case, they try to lay the section of the water supply between the well or well and the house exactly below the freezing depth. The pipe is brought out through the wall of the well below the depth of freezing of the soil and in the trench is led under the house, there it is raised higher. The most problematic place is the exit from the ground to the house, you can additionally heat it with an electric heating cable. It works in automatic mode maintaining the set heating temperature – it works only if the temperature is below the set one.
When using a well and a pumping station as a source of water, a caisson is installed. It is buried below the freezing depth of the soil, and equipment is placed in it – a pumping station. The casing pipe is cut so that it is above the bottom of the caisson, and the pipeline is led out through the wall of the caisson, also below the freezing depth.
A water pipe buried in the ground is difficult to repair: you have to dig in. Therefore, try to lay a solid pipe without joints and welds: they are the ones that give the most problems.
close to the surface
With a shallow foundation, earthworks are less, but in this case it makes sense to make a full-fledged route: lay out a trench with bricks, thin concrete slabs, etc. At the construction stage, the costs are significant, but the operation is convenient, repair and modernization are no problems.
In this case, the water supply pipes of a private house from the well and well rise to the level of the trench and are brought out there. They are placed in thermal insulation to prevent them from freezing. For insurance, they can also be heated – use heating cables.
One practical tip: if there is a power cable from a submersible or borehole pump to the house, it can be hidden in a protective sheath made of PVC or other material, and then attached to the pipe. Fasten every meter with a piece of adhesive tape. So you will be sure that the electrical part is safe for you, the cable will not fray or break: when the ground moves, the load will be on the pipe, and not on the cable.
Sealing the entrance to the well
When organizing the water supply of a private house from a well with your own hands, pay attention to the termination of the exit point of the water pipe from the mine. It is from here that most often the dirty top water gets inside.
If the hole in the wall of the shaft is not much larger than the diameter of the pipe, the gap can be sealed with sealant. If the gap is large, it is covered with a solution, and after drying, it is coated with a waterproofing compound (bituminous impregnation, for example, or a cement-based compound). Lubricate preferably both outside and inside.
What it consists of
The source of water and bringing it into the house is far from the whole water supply system. More filters are needed. The first, coarse filtration occurs at the suction point. In this form, it can be used for technical purposes, for example, to bring it to the toilet. But even for irrigation, untreated water can not be supplied in every case, and even more so in the shower or in the kitchen. Therefore, the water supply of a private house from a well and a well also includes a filter system.
Please note that there are three stages of filtering in the figure:
- on the suction pipe – mesh filter;
- before entering the pump – a coarse filter;
- before entering the house – a fine filter.
At each stage, the filter (or filters) is selected depending on the water. Its quality is determined in the laboratory. Based on the chemical composition, equipment for cleaning is selected.
Autonomous water supply
Systems with pumping stations are good for everyone, except for the fact that electricity is required for their operation. There is a supply of water, but it is equal to the volume of the accumulator, and it is not more than 100 liters. This amount won’t last long. If you need a reserve supply for at least a day or more, it is best to pump water first into the storage tank, and from it to supply it to the inlet of the pumping station. The same system works well if your house is connected to a centralized water supply, but it has very low pressure or water is supplied by the clock.
In the diagram shown in the photo, there is only an emergency overflow. This is a pipeline that exits the storage tank just above the maximum water level. It goes down the drain. Excess water flows down it in case of malfunctions with the float mechanism. If you do not install it, you can flood the house.
If you need a backup water supply for a private house in case of a power outage, the storage tank must be installed at the top, above all water points. Then, when the electrics are turned off, water will be supplied to the pipes by gravity. You won’t be able to take a shower, but it will be in the taps. This will be uninterrupted water supply to a private house in any conditions.