At the heart of each water well system is a pump, and the most common types are jet pumps and submersible pumps.
If your area you live in does not have a high water table, or if it lacks a stable supply of potable water near the surface, you must dig deeper and a deep well means that the water has to be lifted farther by water well pumps.
Jet Pump
The most common pump for a shallow well is a jet pump.
Jet pumps are mounted above the well, either in the home or in a well house, and draw the water up from the well through suction. While air pressure varies with elevation, it’s common to limit the depth of a jet-pump-operated shallow well to about 25 ft.
When incoming water pressure is low, a water pressure “booster pump” may be installed on upper floors to provide improved water pressure
Submersible Pump
Older or shallow wells may use an above-ground jet pump to pull water from the well. Submersible electric pumps that push water up are more common. They typically feature a sealed motor that is lowered into the well and has an above-ground power source. Repairing a submersible pump nearly always involves pulling it from the well. While submersible water well pumps are more efficient than jet pumps in delivering more water for the same size motor, pump or motor problems will necessitate pulling the unit from the well casing. A job that’s best left to a licensed well driller.
