Pump Blog

One little-known perk of having well water is how beneficial it can be for the home aquarium. Fish love lakes, ponds, rivers, creeks and all of the natural sources of water, and since well water is drawn directly from the earth, fish love well water, too. Here in North Florida we have the benefit of tapping into the vast and clean Florida Aquifer, which is the perfect source for great aquarium water.

Most well owners have been asked, how does your water compare to GRU/city water? The answer comes down to your equipment. With well water systems you can have precise control of every aspect of your water, with the right utilization of softeners, chlorinators and other water conditioners.

DO NOT go with cheap, off-brand alternatives you might find at dollar stores or in discount bins. These are often watered down, and contain hardly any bleach at all. Make sure to read the bottle carefully to make sure you are purchasing 100% bleach and not a bleach/water solution (some of which contain only 3% bleach!). You can save money and still get what you need by watching the sales at grocery stores or buying in bulk at Sam's, Costco or Amazon.

This year get ahead of the crowd by getting your pipe foam insulation BEFORE the first freeze. Don't get caught standing in Lowes at 8:59 the night of the freeze looking at the ransacked insulation isle. As you start to panic, an employee comes around the corner: "Excuse me, SIR, but you'll have to come back tomorrow." Inside you quietly hope dripping the faucets will get you through this first freeze.

Chlorinators are mechanisms to inject chlorine into your well's water, but they do more than just sterilize the water. One of the most important uses of a well chlorinator reservoir is for the removal of iron and iron bacteria from your well water.

Well owners know that a power outage can leave them without water, but most have probably never considered the risk of a zombie outbreak. Installing a hand pump takes the water worries out of the collapse of society. The peace of mind you will have knowing that your water needs are met will allow you to focus on more important tasks. Tasks like fortifying your position, building barriers and protecting your personal, end-of-the-world pipeline into the aquifer

Most of us probably take our wells for granted. We know that wells have water at the bottom, and then we pump it up to the surface and condition it how we like it. We discussed a few weeks ago how a well pump works, but where did the idea come from? Who invented the pump?

Recently, The PBS Show This Old House aired a segment about tap water with an unpleasant, rotten-egg smell. This smell will typically occur only in houses that are on well water. The smell isn't caused by the pump, but is due to the presence of Hydrogen Sulfide gas in the groundwater itself.

It may not feel like it here in Florida yet, but Fall arrived on September 23rd. This time of year presents a great opportunity to get outside and enjoy the weather - and check on your well pump. If you need to re-insulate pipes before the winter, now is a good time. Also check for leaks or loose wires, and make sure your timers are set correctly. If you have a chlorinator or a water softener, you can do this when you add your monthly chlorine or salt.

Many of us who rely on well water for our homes and businesses might not actually know the basic principles behind how these essential machines function. The basic principle is one that is easy to comprehend.

Shock chlorination of a well is recommended: - when bacteria is present in the water - after flooding - upon completion of a new well installation - after certain repairs - when iron or sulfur bacteria is present in the water

It's been awhile since we've dealt with a tropical storm or hurricane here in Florida. The last major hurricane was Wilma in 2005, which left 98% of South Florida without power. Now, it looks like tropical storm Erika might make landfall in the coming week. We thought we would take this opportunity to go over the basics of hurricane preparedness in Florida.

So often, we hear from callers “I don’t have any water! What do I need to do?” Here are some tips on what to check.

The circuit breaker should be your first stop. It is located in the circuit breaker panel found in your home, garage or sometimes outside on a power pole. Look for the breaker marked "well," "pump," or both. Turn the breaker fully to the off position and then fully to the on position. By doing this, you are resetting the breaker.

We are so lucky to live in North Florida, where we are surrounded by freshwater springs. Now, in the heat of the summer, is the best time to go enjoy swimming, boating, canoeing, kayaking, snorkeling, diving and tubing in the 70 degree waters.

We've been getting a lot of rain in North Florida this week! This is good news for our water tables, especially when so many other states are experiencing extreme drought. However, too much rain all at once can be too much of a good thing. If you have a well, you should pay particular attention to your water during periods of heavy rain. Well water can be contaminated with bacteria from runoff or groundwater during floods.

An aquifer is an underground layer of permeable rock, gravel and sand from which water can be extracted using a well. We are extraordinarily lucky to live in Florida, where we have access to a huge aquifer that not only supplies much of our state's drinking water, but also feeds the beautiful springs all around North Central Florida.

This infographic created by the Gainesville Pump staff provides the history of Gainesville's water since the 1890's.

A water softener is a mechanical appliance designed to remove ions that cause the water to be "hard," - usually calcium and magnesium ions that come from surrounding rocks and soil. By removing the minerals that contribute to water hardness, the softener is actually making your water "softer."

Decreasing the amount of water wasted in your home is easier than you think! Not only is it environmentally-conscious, but it will save you money, too. Just because you have a well and don't have to pay for city water doesn't mean that you get free water for life. There is still the cost of electricity to run the well pump, and the cost of maintenance over the lifetime of your well equipment. The less water you waste, the lower these costs will be. Here are some great tips for conserving water in your home.

Are you curious about what is actually in your water? The best way to find out is to get a water test. If you have a well, we recommend that you have your water tested every year. This will ensure that your family has clean, safe drinking water all year long. If you notice a difference in your water quality (changes that affect the smell, appearance or taste) it is important to test the water immediately.