How Does a Shallow Well Work?
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The Depth
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The depth of a shallow well is what makes it work so easily. Because it usually doesn't have to be dug any more than 25 feet, it simply uses suction to pull water out of the ground. In order to do this, though, you're going to need an area with a high water table.
Jet Pump
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Jet pumps are the most common way to get water from the shallow well up to the surface. A motor powers a pump that forces a large amount of water from the well through a smaller pipe, thus increasing the pressure. It's like when you put your thumb on the end of your garden hose. You're decreasing the amount of space the water has to exit the hose, so pressure builds, and the water that does come out, comes out harder. As the water leaves the well, it creates suction, not unlike a siphon, thus drawing more water.
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Priming the Jet Pump
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Since jet pumps work by using water to move water, they must first be filled before they can be used. It's also not uncommon for shallow wells to experience a loss of pressure from time to time, so it's a good idea to install a check valve in the feed line to the pump. This will allow you to see when water pressure is dropping, and it may simply be due to a lack of water in the well. If this is the case, you can prime the pump by filling the tank with more water while the power is off. Make sure the check valve's pressure reading is not at or above the pump's cut-out pressure, then flush a little water out of the well after it has been filled.
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