RESEARCH AND

ANALYSIS PAPER 01
SAFE WATER ACCESS AND LOW
TECH SOLUTIONS IN COMMUNITY
THAT HAS NO WATER SUPPLY
(WELL SYSTEM, RAINWATER HARVESTING SYSTEMS AND HAND PUMP)
 Well system

➢ How it works?
The pump lifts the water up a pipe called a drop pipe to the pitless unit, part of the
pitless adaptor. There, the discharge pipe elbows horizontally and carries the water
into the house. Once in the house, the water goes into the pressure tank or if it’s a
period of heavy water use that to kicked on your pump, the water goes straight into
the line to your faucets, shower or sink.

➢ Common problems and possible solutions in water well system

1. The well is pumping sand or large amount of sediments

o New Well Casing

In some serious situations, a new casing may be advised.
However, there are also special screens a well contractor can install over the pump
to keep out sand.
Although these are not feasible for some wells if the casing is very old or if the well’s
diameter is too small if it is not feasible or possible to repair, a new well may be
recommended.

o Centrifugal Sand Separator

Another solution is to install a centrifugal sand separator on top of the ground before
the pressure tank to filter the water before it enters your home plumbing system.
Centrifugal sand separators effectively remove over 98% of all 200 mesh-sized
particles (74 microns) and greater.
These sand separators act as filters to remove sand and sediment through
centrifugal force, sling large particles, sand, debris, and sludge outward to the
separator wall, and downward by the gravitational force pulls the separated solid
particles past the spin trap plate into the solids holding chamber.
Cleaned water then rises through the vortex locator and returns to the plumbing
system. Once in the solids-holding chamber, the sand can be easily drained out
through a small ball valve opening at the bottom of the device, manually or
automatically with an auto flush valve.
No further maintenance is required as there are no moving parts to wear out and no
screens, cartridges, cones, or filter elements to clean or replace. If finer filtration is
needed, this should be followed by another type of secondary filter to take out the
finer particles.

o Filter Screen with Flush Valve

An alternative to the centrifugal sand separator is a spin-down filter that comprises a
filter screen and a small valve found at the filter’s bottom. The screen filters out the
sand and sediment and can be cleaned out by opening the ball valve and flushing
the filter.
These sand and sediment filters must not be too fine because they can result in a
pressure drop. Generally, a 60 or perhaps a 100 mesh screen works well in straining
out most sand and grit. These types of spin-down filters are installed after the
pressure tank.
Both the centrifugal sand separator and the screen filters have manual ball valves
that allow you to flush out the sand.
If you use a lot of water or have a lot of sand in your water, it may require frequent
cleaning, in which case an automatic flush valve can be installed.
These valves turn on for a few seconds and flush out the accumulated sediment and
keep the sand trap clean.
A combination of different types of well water filters can also maximize performance
and minimize maintenance.
If there are some sand and sediment such as clays, soil, or dust particles, a
combination of a large mesh (60 mesh) spindown filter first, followed by a
backwashing sediment filter, can eliminate most sediment and not require constant
maintenance and filter changes.
The automatic backwash filters using turbidity filter media such as Chemsorb or
Turbidex can filter down to the 3 to the 5-micron range and then backwash out the
accumulated sediment to drain once or twice a week as needed.
In some cases, if there are very fine sediment less than 5 microns, a final stage dual-
grade 1-micron depth filter is recommended. However, since most sediment is
removed by the spin-down filter and sediment backwash filter, the cartridge lasts
longer.

2. Low water pressure

o Servicing your pressure tank

A home’s average water pressure should lie between 40 and 60 psi. For those who
need to increase this number:
-Turn off the circuit dedicated to the well pump
-Test the air fill valve with an air pressure gauge and see where your pressure lies
-If the water pressure is floating around 40 psi or below, increase it by adjusting the
pressure switch (this is located on the pipe connecting the well and pressure tank)
-Turn on the circuit and test out the water by opening a faucet
-Readjust if necessary by repeating these steps
3. Having your pipes checked
A common reason for low water pressure is plumbing pipes that are clogged with
tons of sediment and minerals. This buildup will occur in homes that have hard
water, which will damage plumbing and prevent a smooth flow of water. Combat this
by having your pipes inspected and cleaned and having a water softener installed (or
having your current one serviced).
4. Installing a new constant pressure system
To assist your pressure tank in providing your home with an increased amount of
water pressure, consider installing a constant pressure system. This piece is
installed on the water line that enters your home and will prevent water pressure
from dropping when multiple fixtures are being used. Contact your local plumber to
install new parts and pieces, and to inspect and service your plumbing.
 Rainwater harvesting system

➢ How it works?
Rainwater harvesting systems capture rainwater by directing it from large surfaces
(e.g. roofs) to an underground or over-ground holding tank. The harvested rainwater
is filtered and then pumped directly to the appliances or to a header tank.

➢ Common problems and possible solutions in rainwater harvesting

systems

o Strange smelling tank

If your rainwater harvesting tank is smelly, there may be a few reasons why. In order
to solve the problem, you will need to investigate, or call an expert to service your
tank. Common causes are:
 Algae growing inside your tank – you must ensure that your tank is sealed
properly, so that no sunlight is getting through.
A small animal has found its way in – if an animal has gotten stuck in your
tank, it may have passed away and could be contributing to the smell. If this is the
case, you will have to empty your tank and sterilise it thoroughly.
Dust and debris from the roof – if you have an above-ground tank, it’s
common for debris from your roof to enter the tank. All of our tanks come with the
correct filters, but if your tank is old or from another manufacturer, our team can
advise you on the filters you will need to put in place.

o A blockage in the system

If your rainwater harvesting system has a blockage, it can affect the flow of water to
your home. There might be leaves or other debris stuck in the tank, which you will
need to remove. You should also check the filter, to ensure that this isn’t full of
debris.
If you still cannot find the source of the problem, we offer local call outs to solve
issues with your rainwater harvesting tank. Get in touch with our maintenance team,
who will be happy to help you.

o The water isn’t clear

If your water isn’t clear, the system may not be operating correctly. This is likely to be
due to dirty filters, dirt or debris in the tank, or dirty water entering the system by
accident from another source.
Since dirty water is a sign of debris entering the tank, we would recommend cleaning
the leaf filter and maintaining a routine of doing so. It may take time for the water to
refresh and ‘clear up’ if it doesn’t work then you could consider a downpipe filter, and
also having the tank cleaned (Note: this isn’t a service we currently provide).
 Hand pumps

Hand pumps are water-lifting devices that can be operated manually to withdraw
water from surface water sources, groundwater sources and reservoirs, or to pump
water into distribution systems.

➢ How hand pump works?

When you pump the handle up and down, you are moving a rod and piston within a
long PVC pipe that has been lowered below your water line. Every time you pull the
handle down, water is raised up, and every time you allow the handle to go up, the
pump is lowered into the water, loading itself for the next push.
 ➢ Common problems in Hand Pumps
Requires a lot of physical effort to pump water from the well.
Spare parts are not easily available.
Difficulty in filtration of water drawn using a hand pump. Relies on other systems top
filter the water.