Independent Water Systems

Although these pumps use a resource which would not be available in a time when buying and selling is impossible, they may still have a place for specific situations. Gasoline powered water pumps must be placed within approximately 15 feet in elevation of the water source (stream, springhead cistern, etc.) but some models can pump water to over 100 feet in elevation above the pump. They are very good at moving large quantities of water periodically (i.e. filling your cistern once a week) and are usually quite conservative on using gasoline (in our experience, around 1 quart of gasoline will pump 1,200 gal. of water 100 feet in elevation uphill through around 600 feet of 1 ¼ in pipe in 45 minutes). Here are a few tips on the use of these pumps:

• Always make sure it is properly primed before using (running the pump dry could damage your pump).
• Remember to drain the water out of the pump after every use in the winter or anytime it could freeze (this includes draining the suction pipe).
• At the very bottom of the water line (right next to the pump), install a 1 inch valve and pipe for quickly and easily draining the system down to the pump.
• Place the pump at a location where spring floods will not wash it out.

Before buying, be sure to know the head (elevation rise) that the pump will need to be able to handle. Another use for gasoline powered water pumps is for fire protection in dry climates. A cistern of water on the back of a pickup truck and a good water pump could be a very good idea if wildland fires are a possibility in your area. Our Honda water pump (WH15) has performed very well and has given us good service (it even survived freezing with water in it with minimal damage). Other water pump manufacturers are listed here.