Information and answers to common questions about the Emergency Well Tube:
Without electricity to run the pump and no backup means to retrieve water from your well, it might as well be dry!
The Emergency Well Tube was designed to provide well owners with an essential backup tool to ensure that they have access to water in the absence of electrical service.
There are similar products available from online retailers and auction sites, but these products require ALL mechanical components to be removed from the well casing. This just isn’t realistic for the average well owner. Removal of pumps requires special equipment to avoid damage to piping during removal.
“How does the Emergency Well Tube work?”
The user attaches a rope with a sturdy knot to the Emergency Well Tube and attaches the other end of the rope to a fixed object. The Emergency Well Tube is then lowered into the well casing until it reaches the static water level. The float valve then rises up and the tube begins to fill from the bottom. When enough water enters the tube, it will sink and finish filling from the top opening of the Emergency Well Tube. Upon retrieval, the weight of the water in the tube and gravity hold the float valve in the closed position keeping the water in the tube until the Emergency Well Tube is pulled from the well casing and the water is poured out into a clean bucket. See Instructions For Use.
“Does the Emergency Well Tube come with rope?”
No, the Emergency Well Tube does not have rope included. We recommend a 3/8” diameter rope or smaller. Braided rope is preferred over a twisted rope since the Emergency Well Tube will spin while being lowered and retrieved. This twisting action may cause problems with a twisted rope. The length of rope required will be determined by the distance to the static water level.
“How do I determine how much rope I need to draw water with the Emergency Well Tube?”
There a several methods to find the static water level (not to be confused with the drilled well depth). You can tie a steel washer or other weight to a length of string and lower it into the well casing. A fishing rod will also work by loosening the drag and allowing a sinker to slowly lower into the well casing. When you hear the splash, mark the string or line with a marker and remove from the casing. Measure the length of string and add 20’+ to account for variation in water level as well as a safety factor for tying off to the well casing, a nearby tree or other sturdy object.
“But I have a generator….”
Generators are a wonderful short term solution in the aftermath of a storm or interruption in electrical service, but what happens when the gas runs out? How much gas can be stored safely for long term needs? Generators have moving parts which can fail and also require regular maintenance, which is often neglected, and is a leading cause of generator failures. The Emergency Well Tube provides the owner with a simple, effective backup to protect against generator failures.
“But I have a hand pump….”
There are a variety of hand pumps being sold as a backup for well owners. Many of these hand pumps can only be used on shallow wells and hand pumps designed for deep wells can be quite expensive. Hand pumps rely on moving parts to function which can break unexpectedly, leaving the well owner with no way to retrieve water. Even if you have invested in a hand pump, the Emergency Well Tube is a sensible backup just in case you experience a mechanical failure.
“Why does the Emergency Well Tube come in sections and how much water does it hold?”
The Emergency Well Tube has a modular, threaded design to allow for different end uses. Users who have a well house benefit by leaving the center section out allowing for low roof clearance. The compact design is also ideal for the urban/suburban prepper adding value to their bug-out and contingency planning. The Emergency Well Tube can be stored in a framed backpack or rolled in a sleeping bag and easily stores in any vehicle. The Emergency Well Tube holds just over one half gallon of water when filled to capacity.
“I don’t have a well. Why would I need an Emergency Well Tube?”
Whether you are an urban prepper or live in a newly developed neighborhood in the suburbs, you may benefit from owning an Emergency Well Tube.
For the prepper, the Emergency Well Tube adds value to your bug-out and contingency planning. Where are you going? What skills or resources can you offer the group or community?
Many new neighborhoods are being built on converted farmland with the original farm houses and barns nearby. Even if you don’t have a well on your property, chances are there is one close by. The Emergency Well Tube has great potential as a barter item to secure water for yourself and your family during a crisis.