These are GREAT videos, very easy to understand if you have any mechanical inclination at all. If you don't, then watch the video several times and do some online research on how each part of the complete system works, Then you will understand. I got it the first time I watched it , and this is a great tutorial.Thanks for posting this for ALL to see and use. Your a GOOD man!!!
Thank you for posting this series of videos. We just found a spring on my friends property and knew we could develop it, but didn't know where to start. Thanks so much :)
Simply amazing work. Thanks for sharing. I really need you at my retreat as we have zero water. We tried having a well dug but after 330 feet we have nothing! I'm left hauling in water with my truck.
@HumbleWillis sorry about the perspective. the tank is 80 feet above the spring source. inam dropping 8 ft from spring to supply tank and then 22 feet to ram. then it pumps up 110. hope that makes sense.
There are two tanks in question. The water comes out of the spring box into the supply tank for the ram(the round one that thumps). Then it falls 22' vertically in the drive pipe to the ram. The ram pumps the water 110' up to the storage tank for the house(the one at the end of the video). The storage tank is above the house. The spring, ram supply tank, and ram are below the house. He put the supply tank across the cut where the grade complements the slope of the drive pipe. Hope this helps.
This is probably a stupid question but... It seems in the video that the lines you ran are fairly shallow. Won't they be prone to freezing during cold weather? I know here in Indiana the frost line is 36 inches. Any less than that and we have potential for pipe burst or atleast freeze up.
BY the way great videos and instruction on how to build them!, I had seen plans in a book 20+ yrs ago and found your video on how to construct ram pumps by accident. My question is? let say I need to go up 400+ or more. in general terms if I do a 20' drop for a 100' rise then a holding tank as you did on the spring series and run the pumps up to the next level etc do you think it would work? stair step the water per se?
I have a spring that produces about one-half gallon per minute. It is about 170 feet below the house site. Do you think a ram pump could be designed to pump the water up there? Thanks, these are great videos, John Logue
You'll need galvanized for the drive pipe. The drive pipe has to be as ridged as possible so it won't absorb the water hammer on the ramming stroke. After the ram you can use any thing you want. Galvanized pipe is perfectly safe for drinking water.
With all the organics in your soil, the galvanized will be a failure point. It will likely take 20 years, but for some reason it doesn't like to hold up. I've found that the fittings fail first, then the pipe itself follows very quickly. I haven't been able to determine if the ph of the water contributes on the inside as there is material loss on both surfaces. You may want to switch to some type of plastic before burying too deep.
This series inspired me to develop a spring on my property. It's going well, however I had to order additional connection ports from Carolina Water tank for my collection dam. I put it in and my water flow was so strong that both discharge pipes were completely full and water still over ran the dam. I will be installing up to three additional discharge ports tomorrow which should remedy my problem. But too much water in this situation is way better than too little flow. My question concerns burying that tank. I intend to use the same 125 gallon tank and installing a pick up line inside the tank and attaching it to my existing pump located in a pump house. Because of terrain my new tank will be about 20 feet down the hill from my pump house and I'm wondering if I need to burry the tank below grade and build a structure abound it to protect the tank?. I'm not sure it would freeze, but a tank sitting in the woods could get crushed by falling trees or limbs. You said you were going to "pretty much burry the tank". What exactly does that mean?
The ram is working on 22' of fall. Is this from the ram to the level in the supply tank or is this from the ram the the upper end of the drive pipe? I wonder because the drive pipe starts at the bottom of the tank. Does the extra level in the tank add any power, or is it strictly the fall of the drive pipe proper? These things are so fascinating! Thanks.
What kind if erosion issues do you get from this setup? It seems the ram pump would dig itself out eventually? and the return would dig out an area as well? Thanks for sharing.
Nice system, once you have pumped up to the elevation required to achieve your tap pressure, are there any restriction as far as the distance you can run the line horizontally?
What kind of plastic did you use to cover your system? Never been a fan of plastic so I am wondering if it would leech into you water with time. Great video, learning lots thank you!
If I purify a liter of water I use three or four drops of bleach and wait about an hour. But when you are going to add something to a spring catcher, where you have flowing water, how do you calculate how much to add? And do you add it at the other locations as well, such as the tank? and how long do you wait?
There is a stream, a runoff from the city reservoir, behind my house; can I tap it with a ram pump to supply my garden which is about 25 yards from the stream? Or does it actually have to be a waterfall?
I have followed your setup here almost to a Tee.I have built a ram per your example. I have an elevation of 120 ft with a 600 ft distance. problem have 45 lbs pressure at pump but I am still 40 ft short of total elevation what have I done wrong ? Your help is greatly needed. Thanks
Heelo, have You try with a home made pump to pump this water? I'm iterrestign on results, so how more is better comercial pump frpm a Home made pump. Greath Work!
Maybe it's the perspective from the video, but I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the ram pump if the spring water passes by the tank on the way down the hill to the pump, so that it can be pumped back up the hill to the tank. Why not just run directly from the spring to the tank?
Thanks for the idea! I'm just workin on a way to pay for a sizeable chunk of land. Anywho, have you heard of using solar power to perform electrolysis on water to get the hydrogen and use that to power your house and (if you make the necessary changes) your car? You can store some hydrogen in propane tanks. if it leaks, hydrogen is lighter than air so it won't pool on the ground unlike propane. No toxic fumes and you get water back, then recirculate and repeat. And clean water. What do you think
Maybe it's the perspective from the video, but I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the ram pump if the spring water passes by the tank on the way down the hill to the pump, so that it can be pumped back up the hill to the tank. Why not just run directly from the spring to the tank? Or for that matter, why not just build the tank right next to the spring? instead of across all that distance?
are you concerned about sediment in your incoming holding tank and maybe pre-filter or does the spring box act as a filter. if you used allot of water - i am supplying 3 houses - i would think a sediment filter prior to holding tank would be very helpful?
I'm in zone 5a...I'm a bit confused on freezing at spring box or ram... if I tried to duplicate this system what precautions would you suggest? Thank you for this series
It will not freeze as long as the ram is running. The water coming out of the spring is probably 45 to 55 deg.F to begin with. See his video "Ice buster ram pump".
A ram pump, is just an energy transfer device. It takes the energy from a large amount of water dropping down a pipe, and using a shock valve closure, transfers that energy into a far smaller amount of water, that it can then lift higher above the the original water source. The excess water at the pump is then dropped on the ground, so the cycle can repeat again and again. It's not magic, and it does follow the conservation of energy rules (contrary to what some believe).
@engineer. Thanks for the spring development vids. question for you. how much head is on your pump in both directions? I see 8ft of head + 22 on the pump drive? or is the 22 feet more of a run? Also on the pump supply is it a 110 feet of run or head? I'll be developing a well on our farm that is 1500 feet from my house and possible ram application with only 16 feet of supply elevation but 1500 ft of horizontal run. I'd hate to run electricity 1500 ft for water though! thanks again.
Hi Engineer 775 - great videos mate! love your work. I hope you're not taking ALL the water from the creek are you? It's good to harness some of it, but not all of it for the environment's sake?
The water originates from a spring. All overflows, spring box, ram pump, holding tank, return to their original destinations. Only needed water is taken, nothing wasted.
why would you feed from the spring box to the bottom of the holding tank instead of the top of the holding tank? I know you have the height to do it but why?.
Is the ram pump you used in this video one of the same ones you sell on your website? It looks different than those ones. Thanks in advance for letting us know. We need to buy one asap.
If I wanted to start a business professionally developing springs, what regulations would I need to abide by? There are many springs in the rural area where I live.
I know little about this subject, but i do understand the logic and avoiding cross contamination, can you use a small standing tank like the Green one as a giant natural filter e.g if you filled halfway with different grades of fine sand? Then put another Springbox in post that, for areas with high sediment. Isn't thay what municiple water uses giant Sand beds with small percentage of chlorine and flouride in it? Are there risks (guessing there are..) in springs near mines (Coal and iron in my area) but i'm basing my opinion more on other forms of mining where arsenic etc maybe present....like quartz/gold mining
Obviously you did not take the time to watch the videos! If you had you would realize that the outflow from the the spring was more than they needed! The whole system was designed for overflow from the bottom up to the main water tank. ALL extra water went back to the creek. Once the system is full ALL unused water was direct back to its original path flow. so take some time and watch all 4 parts to see how it was constructed before you make such an asinine statement
Shame on you! You took a beautiful and pristine spring and valiantly captured in PVC and poly and steel. And you cut a lot of trees on very steep slope. Were is your heart?
You guys are great, I am new to prepping and live in a major city, but I do have a duty to protect and feed my family. Thanks for the wake up.
These are GREAT videos, very easy to understand if you have any mechanical inclination at all. If you don't, then watch the video several times and do some online research on how each part of the complete system works, Then you will understand. I got it the first time I watched it , and this is a great tutorial.Thanks for posting this for ALL to see and use. Your a GOOD man!!!
Thank you for posting this series of videos. We just found a spring on my friends property and knew we could develop it, but didn't know where to start. Thanks so much :)
Love all your videos, and love seeing SP1 in them; the way you guys enjoy the work and each other's company is great to see.
Great video, as are all your videos! I SO envy you guys with your free-flowing springs...! And those ram pumps... oooh!
Keep up the good work!
Thanks from the mountains of costa rica 👍
seriously impressive setup, Ram-pump is way cool.. EMP proof and all.. Exellent!
I like the process. Thank you so much.
its had to get good help now day's. luckily you did. GOOD JOB GENTLEMEN.
Thanks for putting this together. Now I have an idea wher to start with my cabin.
Simply amazing work. Thanks for sharing. I really need you at my retreat as we have zero water. We tried having a well dug but after 330 feet we have nothing! I'm left hauling in water with my truck.
@HumbleWillis sorry about the perspective. the tank is 80 feet above the spring source. inam dropping 8 ft from spring to supply tank and then 22 feet to ram. then it pumps up 110. hope that makes sense.
There are two tanks in question. The water comes out of the spring box into the supply tank for the ram(the round one that thumps). Then it falls 22' vertically in the drive pipe to the ram. The ram pumps the water 110' up to the storage tank for the house(the one at the end of the video). The storage tank is above the house. The spring, ram supply tank, and ram are below the house. He put the supply tank across the cut where the grade complements the slope of the drive pipe. Hope this helps.
This is probably a stupid question but... It seems in the video that the lines you ran are fairly shallow. Won't they be prone to freezing during cold weather? I know here in Indiana the frost line is 36 inches. Any less than that and we have potential for pipe burst or atleast freeze up.
A great series of vids. Thanks for sharing!
the run off would be nice for a small fish pond is what im thinking if its a wrol retreat it might be a good thing to have your own fish pond
What about the mechanical noise during a WROL situation?
Do you need the supply tank? Could you not go from the spring box straight into a ram pump
?
Is there a way to dampen the thumping sound ?
you do very nice work nice set up thanks for vids
BY the way great videos and instruction on how to build them!, I had seen plans in a book 20+ yrs ago and found your video on how to construct ram pumps by accident. My question is? let say I need to go up 400+ or more. in general terms if I do a 20' drop for a 100' rise then a holding tank as you did on the spring series and run the pumps up to the next level etc do you think it would work? stair step the water per se?
I have a spring that produces about one-half gallon per minute. It is about 170 feet below the house site. Do you think a ram pump could be designed to pump the water up there?
Thanks, these are great videos, John Logue
thanks for the video. now I know that I can do one on my property.
You'll need galvanized for the drive pipe. The drive pipe has to be as ridged as possible so it won't absorb the water hammer on the ramming stroke. After the ram you can use any thing you want. Galvanized pipe is perfectly safe for drinking water.
With all the organics in your soil, the galvanized will be a failure point. It will likely take 20 years, but for some reason it doesn't like to hold up. I've found that the fittings fail first, then the pipe itself follows very quickly. I haven't been able to determine if the ph of the water contributes on the inside as there is material loss on both surfaces. You may want to switch to some type of plastic before burying too deep.
I can't seem to find the original video of the tank way up on the hill that feeds the house I would really like to see it
wont the thumping disturb the natural habitat?
so do u always hear the thump sound from the ram pump?
Wish you lived near by
I wonder what changes I would need to make for this to work in the northeast where we get very very cold?
Where did you get your spring box and stuff from
Great vid , does the water have to be treated with anything while it sets in the tank?
VERY COOL THANKS
It would be great if you did a video on the 'fine tuning' of a ram pump. ;-)
Amazing...
This series inspired me to develop a spring on my property. It's going well, however I had to order additional connection ports from Carolina Water tank for my collection dam. I put it in and my water flow was so strong that both discharge pipes were completely full and water still over ran the dam. I will be installing up to three additional discharge ports tomorrow which should remedy my problem. But too much water in this situation is way better than too little flow.
My question concerns burying that tank. I intend to use the same 125 gallon tank and installing a pick up line inside the tank and attaching it to my existing pump located in a pump house. Because of terrain my new tank will be about 20 feet down the hill from my pump house and I'm wondering if I need to burry the tank below grade and build a structure abound it to protect the tank?. I'm not sure it would freeze, but a tank sitting in the woods could get crushed by falling trees or limbs.
You said you were going to "pretty much burry the tank". What exactly does that mean?
Will you guys travel to lower Alabama to do an install?
The ram is working on 22' of fall. Is this from the ram to the level in the supply tank or is this from the ram the the upper end of the drive pipe? I wonder because the drive pipe starts at the bottom of the tank. Does the extra level in the tank add any power, or is it strictly the fall of the drive pipe proper? These things are so fascinating! Thanks.
How much did this cost you to build it and run it?
What kind if erosion issues do you get from this setup? It seems the ram pump would dig itself out eventually? and the return would dig out an area as well? Thanks for sharing.
Nice system, once you have pumped up to the elevation required to achieve your tap pressure, are there any restriction as far as the distance you can run the line horizontally?
What kind of plastic did you use to cover your system? Never been a fan of plastic so I am wondering if it would leech into you water with time. Great video, learning lots thank you!
If I purify a liter of water I use three or four drops of bleach and wait about an hour. But when you are going to add something to a spring catcher, where you have flowing water, how do you calculate how much to add? And do you add it at the other locations as well, such as the tank? and how long do you wait?
Why can't you pump directly to the large reservoir and bypass the carolina storage tank?
Aloha engineer775. Any plans for using some of that flowing water power to run hydro-electric generators?
There is a stream, a runoff from the city reservoir, behind my house; can I tap it with a ram pump to supply my garden which is about 25 yards from the stream? Or does it actually have to be a waterfall?
I have followed your setup here almost to a Tee.I have built a ram per your example. I have an elevation of 120 ft with a 600 ft distance. problem have 45 lbs pressure at pump but I am still 40 ft short of total elevation what have I done wrong ? Your help is greatly needed. Thanks
Where is the spring coming from the original source?
Heelo,
have You try with a home made pump to pump this water?
I'm iterrestign on results, so how more is better comercial pump frpm a Home made pump.
Greath Work!
Maybe it's the perspective from the video, but I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the ram pump if the spring water passes by the tank on the way down the hill to the pump, so that it can be pumped back up the hill to the tank. Why not just run directly from the spring to the tank?
Thanks for the idea! I'm just workin on a way to pay for a sizeable chunk of land. Anywho, have you heard of using solar power to perform electrolysis on water to get the hydrogen and use that to power your house and (if you make the necessary changes) your car? You can store some hydrogen in propane tanks. if it leaks, hydrogen is lighter than air so it won't pool on the ground unlike propane. No toxic fumes and you get water back, then recirculate and repeat. And clean water. What do you think
I want to see you developing pool out of it.. Would it be posible?
you dig that all by hand?
Could the water hammer or any of that system freeze in the winter time? Or because it's moving it just won't freeze?
THANKS FOR THE EDUCATION. LOOKS A HELL OF LOT CHEAPER AND EASIER THAN A WELL. AND THERE'S NO GUESS ING WHERE THE WATER 'S AT.
Maybe it's the perspective from the video, but I'm not sure I understand the purpose of the ram pump if the spring water passes by the tank on the way down the hill to the pump, so that it can be pumped back up the hill to the tank. Why not just run directly from the spring to the tank? Or for that matter, why not just build the tank right next to the spring? instead of across all that distance?
are you concerned about sediment in your incoming holding tank and maybe pre-filter or does the spring box act as a filter. if you used allot of water - i am supplying 3 houses - i would think a sediment filter prior to holding tank would be very helpful?
How do I get the non electric pomp
Why is there no re use of the off flow from the pump?
Where do you get collection system and spring box
We have them on practicalpreppers.com
I'm in zone 5a...I'm a bit confused on freezing at spring box or ram... if I tried to duplicate this system what precautions would you suggest? Thank you for this series
Thanks Now Im Thirsty!!
It will not freeze as long as the ram is running. The water coming out of the spring is probably 45 to 55 deg.F to begin with. See his video "Ice buster ram pump".
What was the cost for the materials you used?
How does a ram pump work?
Good video.
A ram pump, is just an energy transfer device. It takes the energy from a large amount of water dropping down a pipe, and using a shock valve closure, transfers that energy into a far smaller amount of water, that it can then lift higher above the the original water source. The excess water at the pump is then dropped on the ground, so the cycle can repeat again and again. It's not magic, and it does follow the conservation of energy rules (contrary to what some believe).
@engineer. Thanks for the spring development vids. question for you. how much head is on your pump in both directions? I see 8ft of head + 22 on the pump drive? or is the 22 feet more of a run? Also on the pump supply is it a 110 feet of run or head? I'll be developing a well on our farm that is 1500 feet from my house and possible ram application with only 16 feet of supply elevation but 1500 ft of horizontal run. I'd hate to run electricity 1500 ft for water though! thanks again.
Hi Engineer 775 - great videos mate! love your work. I hope you're not taking ALL the water from the creek are you? It's good to harness some of it, but not all of it for the environment's sake?
The water originates from a spring. All overflows, spring box, ram pump, holding tank, return to their original destinations. Only needed water is taken, nothing wasted.
What did you do with the over flow at the house tank?
What was your final delivery (gal/min)? Around 0.4 ?
Just curious how efficient the final design was.
why would you feed from the spring box to the bottom of the holding tank instead of the top of the holding tank? I know you have the height to do it but why?.
Cool
Let me get this straight brother.... you used 1' from the collection system to the spring box, then 1 1/4" from the spring box to the tank?
What liner are you using to cover the gravel? I was looking for a NSF liner....thank you
Good name!
Is the ram pump you used in this video one of the same ones you sell on your website? It looks different than those ones. Thanks in advance for letting us know. We need to buy one asap.
If I wanted to start a business professionally developing springs, what regulations would I need to abide by? There are many springs in the rural area where I live.
not sure. I have never had to deal with regs regarding Springs but it is coming.
Thanks for the quick response!
Awesom 7:04
I bet the thumping keeps the snakes away!
I know little about this subject, but i do understand the logic and avoiding cross contamination, can you use a small standing tank like the Green one as a giant natural filter e.g if you filled halfway with different grades of fine sand? Then put another Springbox in post that, for areas with high sediment. Isn't thay what municiple water uses giant Sand beds with small percentage of chlorine and flouride in it? Are there risks (guessing there are..) in springs near mines (Coal and iron in my area) but i'm basing my opinion more on other forms of mining where arsenic etc maybe present....like quartz/gold mining
Thats hard to dig a trench through tree roots with a spade shovel.
I may just text you paster scott if that's ok
i wish i had a spring to tap into :-(
I've always wanted to be the top comment.
Obviously you did not take the time to watch the videos! If you had you would realize that the outflow from the the spring was more than they needed! The whole system was designed for overflow from the bottom up to the main water tank. ALL extra water went back to the creek. Once the system is full ALL unused water was direct back to its original path flow. so take some time and watch all 4 parts to see how it was constructed before you make such an asinine statement
Shame on you! You took a beautiful and pristine spring and valiantly captured in PVC and poly and steel. And you cut a lot of trees on very steep slope. Were is your heart?