2/14/2014 7:02 AM
Hey Fred,
A few questions:
What exactly is corroding on the pumps? Is it the pump itself(should already be stainless or brass) or is it the column pipe, the discharge pipe, etc.... In theory, nothing below the static level(the pump itself) should rot since there is no air.
What is the degree of corrosion? Is it rotting off a few years after install, or just seeing surface rust?
There are a lot of variables when comparing pumps. Poor install of the well casing for instance could cause the pump to bind putting pressure on the shafts, spiders, etc.... depth of pump to water source and also will vary the length of service of these components(i.e. a wet well pump lasts longer than one sitting 180' deep into the aquifer). Even pump manufacturer methods and materials can shorten the life of the pump.
We have roughly two dozen deep wells here on property and another two dozen or so smaller wells on our cattle ranch. Of the six I have on the golf course, I had constant problems with one of them, then realized the well itself was crooked causing premature failure. A new well was installed and all has been good since. All of our components, except the pump turbines, are steel. Our wells are drilled anywhere from 180' to 280' with static levels around 40' in all of them. Drawdown is only about 6". Yes, we have corrosion on the inside of the pipe and well head and we have pretty clean water. Probably nothing compared to what you are dealing with.
At my old course, we pulled a well that had not been pulled since install some 30 years prior. The reason we pulled the well was the shaft broke. The pump itself was actually in decent condition. We found quarter size holes in the column pipe that was causing us to lose about 150 GPM back down the well. This course was about three miles from the Gulf of Mexico. We never tested the water, but I always wondered if it had saltwater intrusion.