Eric

Chew

Groundwater Sampling Pumps

Types of pumps – submersible, bladder, peristaltic, and

inertial

Pump specifications

Pros and cons

Supplies and accessories

Common problems in the field

Decontamination

Type of Pump: Submersible

Maximum Depth: ~ 300 feet

Maximum Flow: ~ 9 GPM

Well Size: 2” or larger

Material: Teflon and Stainless Steel

Power: 115V AC

Outlet: 3/8” or ½” Barb

Common Uses: Purging, Sampling,

Pump Test

PROS

Inert materials – Stainless

Steel & Teflon

High flow rate – up to 9

GPM

Pump up to 300 feet

depth

Fits in 2” wells or larger

VFD controller allows for

fine tuning flow rate

CONS

Easy to damageo Does not handle sediment

well (not recommended for developing)

o Can overheat easily if run dry

Requires 115V AC Power

Requires water circulation to cool the pump during use.

Harder to decon than other pumps

Controller ground fault error:o Must disable or use a generator that does not have a ground fault

interrupter.

o Ground cable has been cut and exposed, or ground cable has come loose at pump.

Controller under or over voltage error:o Generator is producing too much or little voltage. Adjust throttle on the

generator.

o Pump is clogged with sediment/fines and is overloading.

Not pumping water:o The pump is clogged with sediment or fines, pull the pump up and clean.

o Pump is placed in the screened interval, possibly causing air/sediment to be pumped in. Pumping in screened interval can also cause pump overheating due to poor circulation of water over pump.

o Pump is placed too close to the bottom of the well, causing sediment/fines to be pumped.

Supplies

Tubing: 3/8” ID or ½” ID

Polyethylene or Teflon

Accessories

Cooling Shroud –

required for wells larger

than 2”

Generator – If power is

not available on site,

2000 to 3000W generator

(depends upon pumping

depth) is necessary.

Take pump apart to inspect

rotor, impellers, wear

plates, etc.

Check for sediments, fines,

PVC shavings, etc.

Check for wearing and

swelling of parts.

Decontaminate using

Liquinox soap.

Change DI water lubricant

in stator housing.

Mega-Typhoon

Maximum Depth: 80 feet

Monsoon

Maximum Depth: 120 feet

Maximum Depth: 200 feet

Mega-Monsoon

PUMPING DEPTH (Ft)

GALLONS PER MINUTE

10 3.040 2.080 0.25

PUMPING DEPTH (DTW)

GALLONS PER MINUTE

10 3.540 3.080 1.25120 0.25

PUMPING DEPTH (DTW)

GALLONS PER MINUTE

10 4.040 3.080 2.5120 1.6150 0.85180 0.45200 0.35

• Well Size: 2” or larger

• Materials: Stainless Steel and

PVC wire

• Type of Pumps: Submersible

• Power: 12V DC Power

• Outlet: 3/8” barb

PROS

Fits in 2” wells and larger

12V DC Power – can run

off truck battery

Adjustable flow rate

Easy to decontaminate

Field replaceable motor

modules

Can handle warm water

CONS

PVC wire cuts or

improperly installed motor

module can cause water

intrusion into motor,

causing failure.

Build-up of sediment can

cause motor failure

Flow rate can be

unsteady in comparison

to other pumps.

Controller is not getting any power:

o Check the alligator clips to make sure they have a good connection (check for

corrosion on clips and battery terminals).

o Inspect wires for breaks or kinks.

o Check the fuse on the side of the controller. Even if the fuse looks good, it can

still be bad.

Not pumping water:

o Pump is clogged with sediment. Remove pump shield and inspect / clean motor

and pump housing.

o Pumping from screened interval or bottom of well.

o Motor is not getting power. Pull the pump up and make sure the motor is

spinning when powered. If not, contacts may need to be lifted to make good

connection. Check for wire break at motor, wiggle back and forth and see if there

is intermittent connection.

o Motor is burned up. Check for water damage. Check to see if motor shaft is

bent or damaged. Replace motor.

Supplies

Tubing: 3/8” ID

Polyethylene or Teflon

Low flow control valve

Accessories

Deep cycle 12V Battery

Check Valve

Use wrench to remove

pump shield.

Twist motor off and check

for water intrusion and then

twist back on.

Clean external surfaces of

motor and internal/external

surfaces of the shield with

Liquinox soap and rinse

with DI water.

Type of Pump: Peristaltic

Maximum Depth: 26 feet

Maximum Flow: 2.5 LPM

Well Size: All

Power: 12V DC Power

Pump Head Tubing: 1 ft section Silicone

PROS

Fits in any sized well your tubing can fit in.

12V DC Power – can run off truck or portable battery

Adjustable flow rate

Disposable tubing, no decon required.

Easily transported

Inexpensive

CONS

Can only pump to depths

of 26 feet.

Low maximum flow rate

No power:

o Power cable is not making a good connection or there is a break in the cable.

Not pumping water:

o There is not enough water in the well

o The tubing is clogged with sediment/fines

Supplies

Recommended Tubing:

o Pump head: 3/16” ID x 3/8”

OD Silicone

o Down Well: ¼” OD Poly or

Teflon

Accessories

12V Power Pack

Type of Pump: Bladder

Maximum Depth: 180 feet (with Geocontroller)

Volume/Cycle: o 1.66” Pump: 150 mL

o 0.85” Pump: 29 mL

Well Size: 1” or larger

Power: 12V DC Power

Materials: Teflon and Stainless Steel

Bladders: Teflon or Polyethylene

Outlet:o 1.66” Pump: 0.25”

o 0.85” Pump: 0.17”

PROS

Can reach great depths

depending upon

compressor and pressure

rating of pump.

Fits in 1” well

Low influence on turbidity

CONS

Harder to operate than

most pumps

Bonded tubing is

expensive

Takes a little time to

change bladders

No power:

o Power cable is not making a good connection or there is a break in the cable.

Not pumping water:

o If pumping from a shallow depth, more fill time is required due to low head

pressure. Discharge time should be short, low pressure required to overcome

head pressure.

o Bladder has been punctured or torn and needs to be replaced.

o O-ring has been damaged and pump is not getting a good seal. Replace O-ring.

Air in discharge line:

o Bladder is being over pressurized. Reduce discharge time on the controller

o Inspect O-rings and bladder

Supplies

1.66” Pump Tubing:o Bonded tubing:

• Air: 0.17” ID x 0.25” OD

• Water: 0.25” ID x 0.375” OD

0.85” Pump Tubing:o Bonded tubing:

• Air: 0.17” ID x 0.25” OD

• Water: 0.17” ID x 0.25” OD

Bladders:o Teflon or Polyethylene

Accessories

None

Take the pump apart by unthreading the bottom intake

assembly.

Remove the bladder. Inspect O-rings for damage.

Clean all parts with Liquinox soap and rinse with DI

water.

Apply lubrication to O-rings if necessary.

Place new bladder into pump.

Reassemble pump

Type of Pump: Inertial

*Maximum Depth: ~ 250 Ft

*Maximum Flow: ~ 3.5 GPM

*Depends on foot valve, tubing, well size

Well Size: 0.5” to 4”

Power: 110V AC – 1000 watts

PROS

Pump from great depth

Fits in wells up to 4”

No expensive parts to be

damaged inside well

Recommended for well

development

Small setup can fit in

damaged wells

CONS

Requires 110V AC Power

Not pumping water:

o Foot valve may be clogged with sediment. Inspect and clean.

o Low density tubing used at too great of a depth which causes tubing to stretch.

Use higher density tubing.

o Well is too large, largest well size recommended is 4”. Too large of a well allows

for tubing wobble which reduces the vertical pumping action.

Supplies

Tubing – Low density Polyethylene for depths less than 70 feet (due to stretching). High Density Polyethylene for depths greater than 70 feet.

o 1” OD tubing for High Flow Foot Valves

o 5/8” OD or ½” ID tubing for Standard Flow Foot Valves

o ¼” ID tubing for Low Flow Foot Valves

o ¼” ID tubing for Micro Flow Foot Valves

Foot Valves:

o Stainless Steel or Delrin

Surge Block – Used to remove silt and sediment in bottom of well and fines from the sand pack and well screen. Surge blocks only can be used with 2” or 4” wells with standard or high flow foot valves.

Type of Pump: Submersible

Maximum Depth: 200 feet

Maximum Flow: 3.5 GPM

Well Size: 2” or larger

Power: 115V AC – 1000 watts

Outlet: 3/8” barb

PROS

Pump from up to 200 feet

Easy to decontaminate

Adjustable flow rate

Can run off of AC or DC

power using inverter

CONS

More expensive than

other 12V pumps

Motor module not easily

replaced in field

Motor module is

expensive

Using the 750 Watt DC to AC inverter causes the max pumping

depth to drop due to less power available. This problem can be

avoided running off of 115V AC

The pump is a new addition to our rental fleet, so far we have not

run into any other issues.

Supplies

Tubing: 3/8” ID

Polyethylene or Teflon

Accessories

Deep cycle 12V Battery

Generator

DC to AC Inverter

Check Valve

Unthread pump outer housing and remove from top cap

Remove inner housing and motor. Unplug the motor

from the top cap.

Clean parts with Liquinox soap and rinse with DI water.

Insert motor back into inner housing and reassemble

pump.

Type of Pump: Submersible

Maximum Depth: 100 feet (based on motor lead)

Maximum Flow: 20 GPM

Well Size: 4” or larger

Power: 115V AC

Outlet: 1” barb

PROS

Has extremely high flow

rate capability

Can run off of the same

VFD controller as Redi-

Flo 2 pump

Can pump from very

deep wells.

CONS

Requires 115V AC power

Very heavy and bulky,

expensive to ship

Large, can’t fit in wells

smaller than 4”

Same issues as Redi-Flo 2 pump

Heavy & larger tubing, harder to lower into well.

Supplies

Tubing: 1” ID x 1.3” OD

Reinforced PVC

Accessories

Generator

Check Valve

Flow Meter / Totalizer

Take pump apart to inspect rotor, impellers, wear plates,

etc.

Check for sediments, fines, PVC shavings, etc.

Check for wearing and swelling of parts.

Decontaminate using Liquinox soap.

Depth – How deep is your well and from what depth do

you need to pump?

Well Size – What size well do you have? What pumps

will fit?

Power – What kind of power options are available at

your site?

Cost – What is the most cost effective pump for what you

need to accomplish?

Other Considerations – Sampling method, well condition,

developing, etc.

If you have any questions about this presentation or the services we offer, please feel free to call us at (888)274-8929 or e-mail Info@enviroequipment.com.

For more information on Groundwater Pump Rentals, visit our Groundwater Pump Rental Page, to purchase visit our Groundwater Pump Sales Page, for tubing, rope and other disposable supplies, visit our Environmental Supplies Page, and to have your pump repaired, visit our Environmental Equipment Repair Page. Thanks.

Eric Chew, GIT

Enviro-Equipment, Inc.

www.enviroequipment.com