Pump and Water Quality Services

Water Pump and Well

Water Sampling and Well Cleaning

Well Abandonment

Well and Septic Inspections

Water Softening and Iron Filtering

Reverse Osmosis Drinking System

Water Pump and Well Work Information

O’Leary Plumbing & Heating, Inc. is licensed with the DNR to perform all your water pump and well cleaning needs. We carry a full line of water pumps and repair parts from jet pumps to constant pressure pump systems. O’Leary Plumbing & Heating, Inc. has all the equipment, including a truck with hoist and backhoe, to perform any service you need seven days a week.

General Information About Water Pumps and Their Uses

1. A jet pump or shallow well pump is mostly used on a point well system.

The pros of this type of well system are:

• It is simple to install
• It is simple to repair or replace. It does not require special equipment to work on this type of water system.

The cons of this type of well system are:

• You are limited with the pressure and gallons per minute (gpm) you can get from a point well system. This is usually not enough for today’s new homes and fixtures.
• Over time, depending on usage, most point wells will eventually plug up and limit your gpm.

2. A submersible pump is only used in drilled wells. This is an electric motor, 4” in diameter, bolted below a water pump that is lowered down the well into the water.

The pros of this type of well system are:

• A system with a submersible pump can be designed to meet any pressure or gpm you desire for your home and sprinkling needs.

The cons of this type of well system are:

• If a pump or the well pipe needs to be serviced, you will need specialized equipment and knowledge to make these repairs. Examples are: a truck with a hoist on it and knowledge of how different kinds of pitless adapters come apart.

3. For a constant pressure pump system, we will match up a system to your well depth and water needs by installing a Franklin electric subdrive controller. We will match this up to the proper motor and pump that will monitor your water usage. Then vary the rpms of the motor to match the water supply demands. By doing this, the pressure in your plumbing system can be adjusted to within two pounds of 70 pounds at all times. Thus creating a system similar to city water pressure.

The pros of this type of well system are:

• The subdrive controller also incorporates soft start technology thus eliminating the harsh starting process of most electric motors and will greatly lengthen the life of your pump motor.
• Because the small variance in pressure and the soft start, a smaller pressure tank requiring less space is required.

The cons of this type of well system are:

• The initial cost is more.

General Information About Your Water System

Pressure tanks store water under pressure to be used in your water system. They do not make the pressure; your pump builds the pressure. Pressure tanks come in several sizes and are made of several different construction materials from steel to fiberglass.

1. A galvanized steel pressure tank is just a cylinder that holds the water.

The pros of this type of tank are:

• Inexpensive
• It comes in a variety of sizes.

The cons of this type of tank are:

• Because the water and air mix in this tank, over time the water will absorb all the air and you will have a “waterlogged” condition that can cause short cycling of the pump.
• The water is in contact with the steel and the potential for corrosion is much greater.
• Because the tanks are filled from the side, potential build up of rust and sludge on the bottom of the tank is greater and is an area where bacteria can live.

2. Steel and fiberglass tanks with internal bladders are types of tanks that have a bladder in them.The bladder looks similar to a balloon and comes with an air charge on top of the bladder.

The pros of this type of tank are:

• Because the water goes directly into the bladder, the air and water never mix and the tank cannot get waterlogged.
• These tanks are more resistant to corrosion because the water never touches the tank.
• Because these tanks fill and empty from the bottom, there is no build up of rust and sludge.

The cons of this type of tank are:

• If the bladder develops a leak, you have to replace the whole tank.

A pressure switch is a spring-loaded switch that turns the pump on and off. Typically it is installed in the water piping as close to the pressure tank as possible. They work when the pressure in your system gets below a certain number, the switch will snap shut and start the pump. When the pressure is built back up to the desired range, the switch will open and shut off the pump. A switch can be purchased with different pressure settings. Examples are: a 20 psi to 40 psi switch; a 30 psi to 50 psi switch; or a 40 psi to 60 psi switch.

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Water Sampling and Well Cleaning

O’Leary Plumbing & Heating, Inc. recommends that you have your well water tested every two years or anytime there is a change in taste, odor or appearance. Some contaminants are odorless and tasteless and can be carried into well casings by insects or poorly sealed well covers. Coliform bacteria, one of the most commonly found contaminants, is a micro-organism that can be found in animal waste, soil and on vegetation. Often present with other bacteria, viruses and parasites, coliform can cause flu-like symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, fever and diarrhea. High levels of nitrates in drinking water can pose a threat to infants under 6 months and pregnant women.  If you live within ¼ mile of a corn, soybean or vegetable field, you should test your water for nitrates regularly.

We send our water samples out to a state certified lab that can test for coliform bacteria, nitrates, and arsenic among other things that can be requested.

We also offer well chlorination and well cleaning. A simple chlorination is where we will add chlorine pellets or powder to your well while protecting your pitless adapter from corrosion. Then we circulate the solution through the system. For best results, we recommend that the solution be allowed 24 hours of contact time before removing and flushing it out of the system.

For well cleaning, we remove the pump and piping from the well. We then have a tool that will go down the well casing and scrub the sides of the casing with a wire brush. We also have a tool to remove everything we brushed off the sides. This is followed by chlorination as described above.

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Well Abandonment

1. Why are unused and improperly abandoned wells threats to groundwater?

• Unused and improperly abandoned wells are a significant threat to groundwater quality. If not properly filled with impermeable material, abandoned wells can directly channel contaminated surface or soil water into groundwater. Water that gets into abandoned wells bypasses the purifying action that normally takes place in the upper layers of the soil. Because groundwater flows in soil and bedrock formations (aquifers), contamination that enters old wells can move to nearby drinking water wells. Many thousands of improperly abandoned wells are threatening groundwater in Wisconsin. Whenever you see an old deteriorating windmill in the countryside, there is likely an improperly abandoned well underneath.

2. How can unused and improperly abandoned wells threaten groundwater and personal safety?

• Contaminated surface water can enter a well if the casing pipe does not extend high enough above the ground surface and the well cap has been broken or removed; or if there are cracks or holes in the casing due to damage or deterioration with age.
• Contaminated surface water can seep down along the casing pipe of an improperly constructed well.
• Wells in low areas are sometimes illegally left open to drain surface water from heavy rainfall or snowmelt.
• Open wells offer tempting disposal receptacles for liquid and solid wastes. The disposal of any pollutant or wastewater in a well is prohibited by State codes.
• Large-diameter open wells pose safety hazards for small children and animals. Several years ago a small boy fell into an unfinished well in Italy and died after a valiant rescue attempt. In 1987, a small girl fell into a well in Midland, Texan and was rescued but only after three days of hard work. In 1987, an 11-year old boy fell through a wooden cover into an old dug well on a farm in Missouri and drowned. Although such occurrences are infrequent, they should never be allowed to happen.
• Improperly abandoned flowing wells can be a nuisance and may lower artesian pressure in neighboring wells.

3. When should wells be properly abandoned?

• Wells must be properly filled when they are removed from service. Wells are removed from service for a number of reasons, including construction of a replacement well, destruction of the building being served, failure of the well to produce safe water, failure of the well to meet the State Well Code (NR 812) standards, or when a community water system is extended into an area formerly served by individual private wells. After wells are removed from service they are seldom used. They often get forgotten after a property transfer and, in time, may get covered by a parking lot or a building. Sometimes in this way all traces of old wells disappear. Such wells can cause groundwater contamination. In one recent case in Wisconsin, a house burned down over an improperly abandoned well located in the basement. The well provided a point of entrance into the aquifer and allowed ash-laden water to contaminate the neighbor’s well. In another case, a buried well having only a stone set on the top of the open casing caused severe contamination of the drinking water pumped from another well on the same property. The unused well was near both an animal yard and a sewage absorption field and thus provided direct access for the entrance of contamination into the groundwater. After a well gets covered, it is very difficult, if not impossible, to find it and determine if it’s causing contamination. When new wells are constructed in an area with improperly abandoned wells, they may have to be cased much deeper or to alternate aquifers to provide safe water. These problems can be avoided by the proper filling of unused wells. Chapters NR 811 and NR 812, Wisconsin Administrative Codes, require proper abandonment, by permanent filling, of unused wells.

4. Who can perform proper well abandonment work?

• Only licensed Well Drillers and Pump Installers may be hired to fill wells. These contractors are familiar with correct abandonment materials and procedures, are knowledgeable about wells, and have access to the necessary equipment. It’s usually more economical to fill an old unused well at the same time the Pump Installer is at the site completing the new well work.

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Well and Septic Inspections

Well and septic inspections are usually done for real estate transactions, refinancing your home, or by the owner’s request. O’Leary Plumbing & Heating, Inc. has all the licenses to perform these inspections.

For septic inspections in general what we do is schedule to have your septic tank pumped with a local septic pumping contractor. Then we complete a visual inspection of the tank looking for cracks, missing baffles, and/or signs of sewage up into the risers. We also clean the septic filter if applicable. For your drain field or seepage cell, we will locate vents or observations pipes in your system and look for evidence of ponding water or ground saturation. Then we report on the general location and setbacks as required.

For well inspections, we start at the well. We determine if it is a point well or a drilled well. We verify that it is the proper distance above grade and away from contaminant sources. We check that it has the proper well cap or seal and that the wires are protected. At the pressure tank, we will cycle the pump and check for proper run time, amp draw, and make sure the pressure switch activates properly. We make sure there is a sample faucet installed. We check for any signs of leaking. When completed, a water sample is taken and sent to a state certified lab.

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Water Softening and Iron Filtering

Whether your home is serviced by a municipal water system or private well, you should consider a water softener. Water soaks through the earth and picks up elements that can change its taste, color and safety, alter its feel, reduce its capacity to wash and clog plumbing. High concentrates of calcium and magnesium make water “hard”.  A water softening system eliminates hard water problems, making your clothes brighter, dishes cleaner and helps your appliances last longer. Metered control valves adjust regeneration frequency and salt use minimizing the impact on the environment.

The water quality experts at O’Leary Plumbing & Heating can help.  First, they will test your water to recommend the correct softener for your home and life style, then install and maintain the unit. (Your investment will last from 15 to 20 years.)  O’Leary only installs metered softeners, saving from 30% to 50% salt usage over other softeners and reducing extra discharge into our sewer systems, making it more environmentally friendly.

As an example, check out www.hellenbrand.com for more information on systems supplied by Hellenbrand.

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Reverse Osmosis Drinking System

You can have safe, clean, delicious drinking water, better than bottled water quality, at the touch of a button right in your kitchen by installing a Reverse Osmosis Drinking System.

As an example, check out www.reo-pure.com for more information on systems supplied by Reo-Pure.

In the United States, household drinking water purification systems, including a reverse osmosis step, are commonly used for improving water for drinking and cooking.
Such systems typically include four or five stages:

• a sediment filter to trap particles including rust and calcium carbonate

• optionally a second sediment filter with smaller pores

• an activated carbon filter to trap organic chemicals, and chlorine which will attack and degrade TFC reverse osmosis membranes

• a reverse osmosis (RO) filter which is a thin film composite membrane (TFM or TFC)

• optionally a second carbon filter to capture those chemicals not removed by the RO membrane.

• optionally an ultra-violet lamp is used for disinfection of any microbes that may escape filtering by the reverse osmosis membrane.

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