Everything you need to know about groundwater sampling pumps including types, specifications, pros and cons, common problems, how to decontaminate and supplies and accessories.

1. Enviro-Equipment, Inc.
 
Eric Chew

2.  Types of pumps – submersible, bladder, peristaltic, and
inertial
 Pump specifications
 Pros and cons
 Supplies and accessories
 Common problems in the field
 Decontamination

3.  Type of Pump: Submersible
 Maximum Depth: ~ 300 feet
 Maximum Flow: ~ 9 GPM
 Well Size: 2” or larger
 Material: Teflon and Stainless Steel
 Power: 115V AC
 Outlet: 3/8” or ½” Barb
 Common Uses: Purging, Sampling,
Pump Test

4. PROS CONS
 Inert materials – Stainless  Easy to damage
Steel & Teflon o Does not handle sediment
well (not recommended for
 High flow rate – up to 9 developing)
GPM o Can overheat easily if run dry
 Pump up to 300 feet depth  Requires 115V AC Power
 Fits in 2” wells or larger  Requires water circulation
 VFD controller allows for to cool the pump during
use.
fine tuning flow rate
 Harder to decon than other
pumps

5.  Controller ground fault error:
o Must disable or use a generator that does not have a ground fault interrupter.
o Ground cable has been cut and exposed, or ground cable has come loose at
pump.
 Controller under or over voltage error:
o Generator is producing too much or little voltage. Adjust throttle on the
generator.
o Pump is clogged with sediment/fines and is overloading.
 Not pumping water:
o The pump is clogged with sediment or fines, pull the pump up and clean.
o Pump is placed in the screened interval, possibly causing air/sediment to be
pumped in. Pumping in screened interval can also cause pump overheating
due to poor circulation of water over pump.
o Pump is placed too close to the bottom of the well, causing sediment/fines to
be pumped.

6. Supplies Accessories
 Tubing: 3/8” ID or ½” ID  Cooling Shroud – required
Polyethylene or Teflon for wells larger than 2”
 Generator – If power is not
available on site, 2000 to
3000W generator
(depends upon pumping
depth) is necessary.

7.  Take pump apart to inspect
rotor, impellers, wear plates,
etc.
 Check for sediments, fines,
PVC shavings, etc.
 Check for wearing and
swelling of parts.
 Decontaminate using
Liquinox soap.
 Change DI water lubricant in
stator housing.

8. • Type of Pumps: Submersible • Well Size: 2” or larger
• Power: 12V DC Power • Materials: Stainless Steel and
• Outlet: 3/8” barb PVC wire
Mega-Typhoon Monsoon Mega-Monsoon
 Maximum Depth:  Maximum Depth:  Maximum Depth:
80 feet 120 feet 200 feet
PUMPING GALLONS PER PUMPING GALLONS PER PUMPING GALLONS PER
DEPTH (Ft) MINUTE DEPTH (DTW) MINUTE DEPTH (DTW) MINUTE
10 3.0 10 3.5 10 4.0
40 2.0 40 3.0 40 3.0
80 0.25 80 1.25 80 2.5
120 0.25 120 1.6
150 0.85
180 0.45
200 0.35

9. PROS CONS
 Fits in 2” wells and larger  PVC wire cuts or improperly
 12V DC Power – can run installed motor module
off truck battery can cause water intrusion
into motor, causing failure.
 Adjustable flow rate
 Build-up of sediment can
 Easy to decontaminate
cause motor failure
 Field replaceable motor
 Flow rate can be unsteady
modules
in comparison to other
 Can handle warm water pumps.

10.  Controller is not getting any power:
o Check the alligator clips to make sure they have a good connection (check for
corrosion on clips and battery terminals).
o Inspect wires for breaks or kinks.
o Check the fuse on the side of the controller. Even if the fuse looks good, it can still
be bad.
 Not pumping water:
o Pump is clogged with sediment. Remove pump shield and inspect / clean motor and
pump housing.
o Pumping from screened interval or bottom of well.
o Motor is not getting power. Pull the pump up and make sure the motor is spinning
when powered. If not, contacts may need to be lifted to make good connection.
Check for wire break at motor, wiggle back and forth and see if there is intermittent
connection.
o Motor is burned up. Check for water damage. Check to see if motor shaft is bent or
damaged. Replace motor.

11. Supplies Accessories
 Tubing: 3/8” ID  Deep cycle 12V Battery
Polyethylene or Teflon  Check Valve
 Low flow control valve

12.  Use wrench to remove pump
shield.
 Twist motor off and check for
water intrusion and then
twist back on.
 Clean external surfaces of
motor and internal/external
surfaces of the shield with
Liquinox soap and rinse with
DI water.

13.  Type of Pump: Peristaltic
 Maximum Depth: 26 feet
 Maximum Flow: 2.5 LPM
 Well Size: All
 Power: 12V DC Power
 Pump Head Tubing: 1 ft section Silicone

14. PROS CONS
 Fits in any sized well your  Can only pump to depths
tubing can fit in. of 26 feet.
 12V DC Power – can run  Low maximum flow rate
off truck or portable
battery
 Adjustable flow rate
 Disposable tubing, no
decon required.
 Easily transported
 Inexpensive

15.  No power:
o Power cable is not making a good connection or there is a break in the cable.
 Not pumping water:
o There is not enough water in the well
o The tubing is clogged with sediment/fines

16. Supplies Accessories
 Recommended Tubing:  12V Power Pack
o Pump head: 3/16” ID x 3/8”
OD Silicone
o Down Well: ¼” OD Poly or
Teflon

17.  Type of Pump: Bladder
 Maximum Depth:
180 feet (with Geocontroller)
 Volume/Cycle:
o 1.66” Pump: 150 mL
o 0.85” Pump: 29 mL
 Well Size: 1” or larger
 Power: 12V DC Power
 Materials: Teflon and Stainless Steel
 Bladders: Teflon or Polyethylene
 Outlet:
o 1.66” Pump: 0.25”
o 0.85” Pump: 0.17”

18. PROS CONS
 Can reach great depths  Harder to operate than
depending upon most pumps
compressor and pressure  Bonded tubing is
rating of pump. expensive
 Fits in 1” well  Takes a little time to
 Low influence on turbidity change bladders

19.  No power:
o Power cable is not making a good connection or there is a break in the cable.
 Not pumping water:
o If pumping from a shallow depth, more fill time is required due to low head pressure.
Discharge time should be short, low pressure required to overcome head pressure.
o Bladder has been punctured or torn and needs to be replaced.
o O-ring has been damaged and pump is not getting a good seal. Replace O-ring.
 Air in discharge line:
o Bladder is being over pressurized. Reduce discharge time on the controller
o Inspect O-rings and bladder

20. Supplies Accessories
 1.66” Pump Tubing:  None
o Bonded tubing:
• Air: 0.17” ID x 0.25” OD
• Water: 0.25” ID x 0.375”
OD
 0.85” Pump Tubing:
o Bonded tubing:
• Air: 0.17” ID x 0.25” OD
• Water: 0.17” ID x 0.25” OD
 Bladders:
o Teflon or Polyethylene

21.  Take the pump apart by unthreading the bottom intake
assembly.
 Remove the bladder. Inspect O-rings for damage.
 Clean all parts with Liquinox soap and rinse with DI water.
 Apply lubrication to O-rings if necessary.
 Place new bladder into pump.
 Reassemble pump

22.  Type of Pump: Inertial
 *Maximum Depth: ~ 250 Ft
 *Maximum Flow: ~ 3.5 GPM
*Depends on foot valve, tubing, well size
 Well Size: 0.5” to 4”
 Power: 110V AC – 1000 watts

23. PROS CONS
 Pump from great depth  Requires 110V AC Power
 Fits in wells up to 4”
 No expensive parts to be
damaged inside well
 Recommended for well
development
 Small setup can fit in
damaged wells

24.  Not pumping water:
o Foot valve may be clogged with sediment. Inspect and clean.
o Low density tubing used at too great of a depth which causes tubing to stretch. Use
higher density tubing.
o Well is too large, largest well size recommended is 4”. Too large of a well allows for
tubing wobble which reduces the vertical pumping action.

25. Supplies
 Tubing – Low density Polyethylene for depths less than 70 feet
(due to stretching). High Density Polyethylene for depths greater
than 70 feet.
o 1” OD tubing for High Flow Foot Valves
o 5/8” OD or ½” ID tubing for Standard Flow Foot Valves
o ¼” ID tubing for Low Flow Foot Valves
o ¼” ID tubing for Micro Flow Foot Valves
 Foot Valves:
o Stainless Steel or Delrin
 Surge Block – Used to remove silt and sediment in bottom of well
and fines from the sand pack and well screen. Surge blocks only
can be used with 2” or 4” wells with standard or high flow foot
valves.

26.  Type of Pump: Submersible
 Maximum Depth: 200 feet
 Maximum Flow: 3.5 GPM
 Well Size: 2” or larger
 Power: 115V AC – 1000 watts
 Outlet: 3/8” barb

27. PROS CONS
 Pump from up to 200 feet  More expensive than other
 Easy to decontaminate 12V pumps
 Adjustable flow rate  Motor module not easily
 Can run off of AC or DC replaced in field
power using inverter  Motor module is expensive

28.  Using the 750 Watt DC to AC inverter causes the max pumping depth to
drop due to less power available. This problem can be avoided running
off of 115V AC
 The pump is a new addition to our rental fleet, so far we have not run
into any other issues.

29. Supplies Accessories
 Tubing: 3/8” ID  Deep cycle 12V Battery
Polyethylene or Teflon  Generator
 DC to AC Inverter
 Check Valve

30.  Unthread pump outer housing and remove from top cap
 Remove inner housing and motor. Unplug the motor from
the top cap.
 Clean parts with Liquinox soap and rinse with DI water.
 Insert motor back into inner housing and reassemble pump.

31.  Type of Pump: Submersible
 Maximum Depth: 100 feet (based on motor lead)
 Maximum Flow: 20 GPM
 Well Size: 4” or larger
 Power: 115V AC
 Outlet: 1” barb

32. PROS CONS
 Has extremely high flow  Requires 115V AC power
rate capability  Very heavy and bulky,
 Can run off of the same expensive to ship
VFD controller as Redi-Flo  Large, can’t fit in wells
2 pump smaller than 4”
 Can pump from very deep
wells.

33.  Same issues as Redi-Flo 2 pump
 Heavy & larger tubing, harder to lower into well.

34. Supplies Accessories
 Tubing: 1” ID x 1.3” OD  Generator
Reinforced PVC  Check Valve
 Flow Meter / Totalizer

35.  Take pump apart to inspect rotor, impellers, wear plates,
etc.
 Check for sediments, fines, PVC shavings, etc.
 Check for wearing and swelling of parts.
 Decontaminate using Liquinox soap.

36.  Depth – How deep is your well and from what depth do you
need to pump?
 Well Size – What size well do you have? What pumps will
fit?
 Power – What kind of power options are available at your
site?
 Cost – What is the most cost effective pump for what you
need to accomplish?
 Other Considerations – Sampling method, well condition,
developing, etc.

37. If you have any questions about this presentation or the services we
offer, please feel free to call us at (888)274-8929 or e-mail
Info@enviroequipment.com.
For more information on Groundwater Pump Rentals, visit our
Groundwater Pump Rental Page, to purchase visit our Groundwater
Pump Sales Page, for tubing, rope and other disposable supplies
visit our Environmental Supplies Page, and to have your pump
repaired, visit our Environmental Equipment Repair Page. Thanks.
Eric Chew, GIT
Enviro-Equipment, Inc.
www.enviroequipment.com