Water Quantity Improvement Methods - how to get more water

Methods for improving well water quantity. List of articles giving options for increasing the quantity of water available at a site:
- Well water problems: running out of water, options list
- What is the difference among water pressure, water flow, water quantity, and water quality?
- How do we improve water pressure and flow at a property?
- How do we improve water quantity at a property?
- How do we improve hot water pressure, flow, quantity if cold water pressure, flow, and quantity are already acceptable?
Questions & Answers about how to improve the amount of water available from a private well system.
References

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This article describes the steps and methods to improve or increase the quantity (amount) of water available at a property. If your well runs dry or you keep running out of water here are some suggestions to increase water supply quantity.

How to Improve the Quantity (amount) of Water Available at a Property

When water quantity is insufficient at a property, the basic steps and options for improving the water quantity include the following (all of which are discussed in detail at this website):

Determine the actual water quantity WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT you are using or need - see WATER QUANTITY USAGE GUIDE
Determine if the problem is water pressure (WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE) or water quantity (How Much Water is In the Well? and WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT)
Diagnose and repair problems with water pressure: examine well pump, water tank & controls as well as water piping and fixtures; and if it's a water pressure problem, determine if the pressure problem occurs for both hot water and cold water
and/or
Diagnose and repair problems with water quantity: find and correct the reason why you run out of water - well pump or tank or piping equipment problems, piping leaks, well flow rate limitation
WATER PUMPS, TANKS, TESTS, WELLS, REPAIRS - Repair or adjust water supply equipment, pump, control, piping, leaks, water pressure tank, water storage capacity -
PIPING IN BUILDINGS, Clogs Leaks Types - Repair any water leaks in well supply piping, building water supply piping, running toilets, etc. WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL Add additional water storage tanks without addressing the well flow limitation
WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT - Take steps to increase well yield - such as hydrofracking - using liquid CO2 or other means to improve water flow into the well itself
Take steps to conserve water or reduce water usage at a property - save water: low flush toilets, low flow shower and sink faucets, etc. Also see Water resource ManageMent Planning and GREYWATER SYSTEMS and WATER SOURCE ALTERNATIVES
Drill a new well (risky, costly)
Connect to municipal supply if one is available

What's the Difference Between Inadequate Water Quantity & Bad Water Quality?

We distinguish among water quantity (how much water can we draw from a well before we run out?), water quality (what contaminants are present in water?), and water pressure or flow adequacy, and we list options for improving the first of these in the articles below.

Our photo (left) shows a modern drilled well with a six-inch steel casing and electrical conduit entering the well cap - telling us that this is a deep well whose pump is installed inside the well itself. But from just a visual inspection of the well we have no idea how much water can be drawn from this system. This article explains how to determine the water quantity available at a property, how to diagnose inadequate water quantity (or alternatively poor water pressure and flow), and how to correct those conditions.

If your concern is for the quality of drinking water (contaminants, odors, etc) see WATER QUALITY TESTS, CONTAMINANTS, TREATMENT and the diagnostic suggestions listed there. Our page top photo shows a very large water storage tank - a system that is installed when the well flow rate at a property is very limited. By using a large water storage tank the building occupants can have plenty of water for regular use. The tank is filled, slowly, during periods when water is not being drawn from the system.

If the Water Pressure is Too Weak in a Building

$water pressure test (C) Daniel Friedman\$ Water pressure or water flow rate in a building plumbing system describes the water quantity and water pressure delivered at individual plumbing fixtures. The in-building water flow rate or water pressure is determined by the pressure capability of the well pump, the settings of the water pressure tank control, and by the length, diameter, and clogs in building piping - not by the quantity of water available.

WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - a description of the procedures used to diagnose the cause of poor water pressure or the cause of running out of water entirely at a property served by a private well

WATER PRESSURE & FLOW MEASUREMENT - how can we measure water pressure and flow in a building?
Water Pressure Intermittent - what does it mean if water pressure comes and goes at a property?
No Water Pressure - what to do if water pressure is lost entirely
Well Tank relation to Water Pressure - what are the functions of a water pressure tank and how does it affect water pressure in the building?
Shaking the Water Tank? - a quick simple way to find out if there is water in the water tank
WATER PRESSURE TANK REPAIRS - causes of problems with the water tank
Water Pressure Tank Diagnosis - how to determine what's wrong with the water tank
Water pressure Later Returns "on its own" - more details about intermittent water pressure and what to do about it
Water pipe clog diagnosis - how to determine if building piping is responsible for bad water pressure and flow
Water pipe clog repair guide - what to do about clogged building water supply piping
WATER PRESSURE REPAIR CORRECTLY? - how do we know we have made the correct repair while avoiding unnecessary water system costs
Typical Water Tank & Pump Price

WATER PRESSURE PUMP REPAIR GUIDE/P>

Questions about lost water pressure
Advice to a homeowner
Adjusting Water Pump Pressure Control - how to adjust building water pressure at the pump or water tank
WELL PUMP / TANK REPAIR ADEQUACY
Well Pump & Tank Replacement Costs
Reliability of Pump & Tank Repairs
WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE - how to get the water pump working again
WATER PRESSURE REDUCER / REGULATOR - how to adjust a municipal water pressure regulator

If the Well Water Quantity is Insufficient at a Property

Water quantity describes the total amount of water available at a property served by a private well.

The total amount of water available is the sum of the static head in the well (the water inside the well casing or well itself when the well is at rest), the water stored in piping and in water pressure or water storage tanks, and the well flow rate (the rate at which water flows into the well).

If you run out of water at a property this means that you have drawn off all of the static water storage and that the rate at which water flows into the well is less than the rate that the pump is trying to send water out of the well and into the building.

Well flow rate or well yield is the rate at which water flows into the well from surrounding rock and ground water sources. The flow rate of a well is a complex number - water enters the well from various rock cracks or fissures at different depths. The sketch at left, courtesy of Carson Dunlop, outlines what happens during a well drawdown or well flow test procedure.

At each point where water enters the well the rate of water flow may vary over time, and may slow or even stop as water is drawn from the well. When a new well is drilled the well driller measures the actual flow rate of the well (the sum of all of these individual flows) by using a calibrated pump installed right at the well itself.

Well depth does not tell you much directly about the ability of the well to deliver water (the well yield or well flow rate). Rather, the depth of an individual well was determined by the well driller who drilled ever deeper until the well flow rate appeared to be adequate (typically 5 gpm or better for new wells). However a very deep well probably indicates that the driller had to do a lot of drilling to hit an adequate water supply.

How Much Water is In the Well? - we describe the well flow rate and water quantity of a well, including well flow rate, static head, and the effects on well yield when we install a new more powerful well pump.
How to Test Well Water Quantity - we describe how to test the ability of a well to deliver water
How to Get More Water From a Well - we describe how to increase the water flow rate or quantity from a well - improving the well yield

Hot Water Problems & Solutions

Hot water problem diagnostic basics: If cold water pressure is adequate in the building but the hot water quantity or pressure and flow are inadequate, see these articles listed below. The sketch at left, courtesy of Carson Dunlop, shows the installation of a tempering valve at a tankless coil used for making hot water.

A useful water pressure and flow diagnostic in a building is to compare the hot water pressure and cold water pressure at individual fixtures.

If hot water pressure and flow are the same as cold water pressure and flow at some fixtures but at others the hot water flow rate is less, we suspect a local problem with the piping, faucets and valves at the fixture.

If hot water pressure and flow are poor throughout the building, the problem could be at the hot water source or in the building piping.

HOT WATER IMPROVEMENTS - how to get more hot water pressure, flow, or temperature in a building
HOT WATER DELIVERY SPEED UP - how to get hot water more quickly at a plumbing fixture
HOT WATER QUANTITY IMPROVEMENT - how to increase the amount of hot water at a property

Water Quality - is the Water Safe to Drink, Contaminated, Smelly, Discolored, Sedimented?

Water quality describes what is in the building water supply: contaminants,odors, etc. If your concern is for water quality (contamination, odors, water tests, water treatment) see these articles:

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Technical Reviewers & References

Related Topics, found near the top of this page suggest articles closely related to this one.

Mark Cramer Inspection Services Mark Cramer, Tampa Florida, Mr. Cramer is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors and is a Florida home inspector and home inspection educator. Mr. Cramer serves on the ASHI Home Inspection Standards. Contact Mark Cramer at: 727-595-4211 mark@BestTampaInspector.com
John Cranor is an ASHI member and a home inspector (The House Whisperer) is located in Glen Allen, VA 23060. He is also a contributor to InspectApedia.com in several technical areas such as plumbing and appliances (dryer vents). Contact Mr. Cranor at 804-747-7747 or by Email: johncranor@verizon.net
Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd., 120 Carlton Street Suite 407, Toronto ON M5A 4K2. (416) 964-9415 1-800-268-7070 info@carsondunlop.com. The firm provides professional home inspection services & home inspection education & publications. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors. Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, for permission for InspectAPedia to use text excerpts from The Home Reference Book & illustrations from The Illustrated Home. Carson Dunlop Associates' provides:
- Commercial Building Inspection Courses - protocol ASTM Standard E 2018-08 for Property Condition Assessments
- Home Inspection Education Courses including home study & live classes at eleven colleges & universities.
- Home Inspection Education Home Study Courses - ASHI@Home Training 10-course program.
  Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on these courses: Enter INSPECTAHITP in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference Book, a reference & inspection report product for building owners & inspectors.
  Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.
- The Home Reference eBook, an electronic version for PCs, the iPad, iPhone, & Android smart phones.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter inspectaehrb in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Illustrated Home illustrates construction details and building components, a reference for owners & inspectors.
  Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Illustrated Home purchased as a single order Enter INSPECTAILL in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
- The Horizon Software System manages business operations,scheduling, & inspection report writing using Carson Dunlop's knowledge base & color images. The Horizon system runs on always-available cloud-based software for office computers, laptops, tablets, iPad, Android, & other smartphones.
Thanks to readers Linda and Tim Quinn for suggesting clarification of water flow and water quantity problems (July 2009).

Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost an specific case offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost
Water pressure tank failures & water pump short cycling diagnosis and repair

Access Water Energy, PO Box 2061, Moorabbin, VIC 3189, Australia, Tel: 1300 797 758, email: sales@accesswater.com.au Moorabbin Office: Kingston Trade Centre, 100 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, VIC 3189
Australian supplier of: Greywater systems, Solar power to grid packages, Edwards solar systems, Vulcan compact solar systems, water & solar system pumps & controls, and a wide rage of above ground & under ground water storage tanks: concrete, steel, plastic, modular, and bladder storage tanks.
Life Expectancy of Water Pumps - Well Pumps: how long should a water pump last? What affects pump life?
Life Expectancy of Wells & Water Tanks how long should a water well and its components last?
Smart Tank, Installation Instructions [ copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] - , Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf
Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safety.
Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost an specific case offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost
Water pressure tank failures & water pump short cycling diagnosis and repair
Water Supply & Drain Piping, water and drain pipe types, inspection, diagnosis, repairs, problem materials, clogging, etc.
Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living

Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair

Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.

The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 25th Ed., 2012, is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume. Special Offer: For a 10% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference Book purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space. InspectAPedia.com editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author.

Or choose the The Home Reference eBook for PCs, Macs, Kindle, iPad, iPhone, or Android Smart Phones. Special Offer: For a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Home Reference eBook purchased as a single order. Enter INSPECTAEHRB in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.

Building inspection education & report writing systems from Carson, Dunlop & Associates Ltd

Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, have provided us with (and we recommend) Carson Dunlop Weldon & Associates' Technical Reference Guide to manufacturer's model and serial number information for heating and cooling equipment
Special Offer: Carson Dunlop Associates offers InspectAPedia readers in the U.S.A. a 5% discount on any number of copies of the Technical Reference Guide purchased as a single order. Just enter INSPECTATRG in the order payment page "Promo/Redemption" space.
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How to Improve the Quantity (amount) of Water Available at a Property