Homestead mailing list

[Gene GeRue <genegerue AT ruralize.com>]

> The ram pump requires a certain head to make it work.  The more head the 
> more water it can move higher.  How much head do you have for the ram 
> pump?  How much flow does the stream have on average?

Yeah, I have a chart on the numbers from the Rife ram pump company. My 
first task is to build the dam to create the trout pond. That will give me 
six feet or more of head. With that much head the flow could be weak. I 
measured the flow once during drought season but I don't recall the fpm. I 
know it is more than adequate. Most importantly, it is year-round; has 
never been known to not flow. One big spring and several smaller ones 
upstream from the future trout pond, which will be straight out from the 
front of the house. There are photos of one of the small springs and the 
stream at:
http://www.ruralize.com/heartwoodhamlet.html

I will put the tank or tanks up on the hill at sufficient elevation to give 
the pressure at the house that I decide on, probably about 45 psi. All the 
pipes I have installed and will install are oversized. The mains are two 
inch. With a ram working constantly you don't need a lot of gpm. I will 
build or buy one of the larger ram pumps.

I have installed an overflow line in the same ditch, one-inch black plastic 
pipe that comes in a roll. I have it designed to emerge at an artificial 
waterfall behind the house which can be viewed from the kitchen sink. That 
way I will have visual confirmation that the pump is working and the tanks 
are full.