Elevation/water pressure spring to house

JD Farmer · Nov 5, 2020

So I plan on putting in a small reservoir (250 gallon)on the hill above my house. the spring is already developed, just need to tap into the catch basin and run a line to the house.

My question is about pipe size and does it affect pressure? Want to use 1" plastic or maybe 1 1/2" but that will be more costly. Elevation above the house is around 60' with a run of about 400 feet. So does the size of the pipe matter? Reservoir is a sphere shaped tank.

We will only use this for our drinking water and maybe some cooking.

David G · Nov 5, 2020

You should be fine with 1 1/2 pipe @ 20 GPM you will have less than 1PSI and negligible at lower flows.

On 60' head I get 25PSI, so not huge but not bad.

David G · Nov 5, 2020

Pipe matters as flow increases.

dpendzic · Nov 5, 2020

if you can live with 5 gpm the 1" pipe should be fine

RCP · Nov 5, 2020

I think you are going to be disappointed with pressure at the faucet in the house, I would suggest installing a inline pressure pump and pressure tank. That would also allow you to use a smaller line from the reservoir to your house.

MarkB_MI · Nov 5, 2020

Over 400 feet, 1 inch would be the minimum acceptable diameter. 1-1/2 would be better. Your 60 foot drop will only give you about 26 psi. Bigger is better.

Vicinalvictor · Nov 5, 2020

Why not use a ram pump? It uses no electricity.

showcrop · Nov 5, 2020

You will have 26 psi of head pressure. At 20 GPM of flow you will lose 9.4 psi. through one inch pipe. 11 psi is not much to take a shower under. With 1.5 inch you will lose only 4 psi in 400 feet so that could be doable. Consult "friction loss tables"

flying belgian · Nov 5, 2020

Once you got the trench dug, just as easy to drop in a 3"

Denny K · Nov 5, 2020

Around here 1 1/2" poly is almost cheaper than 1" poly. Buy decent quality poly not the chepest. I have seen cheap poly in a few years get hard and brittle. Snapped like glass.

Janicholson · Nov 5, 2020

Drinking and cooking at 5 gallons a minute is way plenty. If you needed to use it in an automatic washing machine, it might be iffy. 1.25 pipe might be a compromise. Are you burying the pipe? where are you geographically? Jim

David G · Nov 5, 2020

You would not want a 3", the water must change over or it will go stagnant.

4520BW · Nov 5, 2020

Never thought of that!

Russ from MN · Nov 5, 2020

Like others said, 26 psi with low flow, but if it's just for drinking and cooking that might be OK. What do you use for showers and toilets? If the spring can provide more water, a booster pump might make sense, and use it for everything.

guido · Nov 5, 2020

Hello JD farmer,

How about putting the tank in the house, and use it to feed a pressure tank set-up? A float to maintain the level, and an overflow just in case the float fails,

Guido.

David G · Nov 5, 2020

Agreed, that is how I would do it.

TomA in CA · Nov 6, 2020

I would use 1/2" poly. Pressure is the same, flow is less. How much flow do you need?

Determined · Nov 6, 2020

I would go with the 1 1/2 pipe and install multiple shut off valves just in case something leaks or needs servicing.

-Before tank
-After tank
-At house

JK-NY · Nov 6, 2020

To answer your question yes pipe size matters, as well as your elevation. Look up “pipe friction “ online and then you can get information on how much pressure you will have/lose based on your pipe size, length and elevation drop .

DoubleO7 · Nov 6, 2020

Are you going to use the coiled plastic for the 400 feet?

Elevation/water pressure spring to house

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