The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Smallholding => Techniques and skills => Topic started by: Fieldfare on April 12, 2011, 05:15:16 pm
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Hi all- I have a shallow 60 litre spring-fed trough (approx. flow 60 litres per hour). I would like to move this water uphill (head of about 4 metres and distance of between 10metres to 40 metres). This would be collected in a 1000 litre tank for watering plants with over the summer months. Anyone got any ideas of the best/most efficient way of doing this?
Thanks
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A little petrol powered pump? Available new for less than a few hundred quid. I have a similar situation except the water has to be carried in the tank about 400 yards to where I need it. My solution is a pump to fill the tank, pallet forks on the tractor 3 point linkage, and drive it up and place it wherever I want. Big advantage is I can still move the IBC even when it's got water in it, so don't have to empty it to free up the trailer for any other jobs.
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Dick Strawbridge (of "It's not easy being green") built a ram pump which, I believe, pumped water uphill without using any kind of power at all. Hydraulic/water powered ? I'm not sure - I'm just a girl ;) ;D
Here's a link to his site, maybe you'd be able to find an old episode on i-player ?
http://www.newhousefarm.tv/course=Making_the_most_of_Water_Power (http://www.newhousefarm.tv/course=Making_the_most_of_Water_Power)
Ooooo and I just found this http://www.judyofthewoods.net/ram_pump.html (http://www.judyofthewoods.net/ram_pump.html) It looks quite easy ;)
HTH
Karen
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I was just going to mention water ram pumps when HH replied. This would avoid requirement for electricity; I had wondered about this for our land where we have a substantial burn below the level of all our land; as long as you have sufficient head of water at the origin; need to check on the internet re where to get hold of or how to make.
Simon
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Hate to be a party-pooper but I doubt that a hydraulic ram pump could be made to work on a 60L/Hr flow, they really need more/faster moving water (unless you made a really tiny one :P ).
A petrol pump as Hughsey said, or electric if you've got a genny.
Or
A 12v pond/fountain pump with a solar panel for remote use. (might not do much midwinter though).
This one can do 2m head with an 8w panel:-
http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/solar-12v-brushless-water-pump-light-with-max-hight-2-15108471.htm?from=googlebase
(http://uk.ebid.net/for-sale/solar-12v-brushless-water-pump-light-with-max-hight-2-15108471.htm?from=googlebase)
This one does 3m:-
http://www.virtualvillage.co.uk/solar-powered-water-pump-12v-2200ma-009700-033.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shcomp (http://www.virtualvillage.co.uk/solar-powered-water-pump-12v-2200ma-009700-033.html?utm_source=googlebase&utm_medium=shcomp)
I can't see one that does 4m but you might get lucky if you keep googling
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I was going to say a ram pump too, but mab is right, the smallest ones work on about 4 litres/minute so a mechanical pump looks like your only option I'm afraid :(
(http://www.greenandcarter.com/main/img/ram_diagram.gif)