• Pump performance curve
Two US interns discuss energy used by household pumps, Andra Gutierrez, and Mackenzie Glenn.
They could not find all the data they needed and have each said they welcome your feedback.
Read on.
Andra Gutierrez
Water Pump Analysis
Water is a necessity of life. We need it in our homes to do many things like cook, drink, clean, and bathe, etc.
In rich countries (such as where I live, the US, and where this blog is published, Australia) most residential areas and buildings are connected to a city’s main water line where residents receive pressurized, treated water directly from a pumping station [2].
Through pipes built underground, the station sends enough force through the supply line for water to travel and provide water flow to the mainline in a house. Those who live far away from the city’s water pumps receive water as well, but they may experience low water pressure [3]. Other contributors to low water pressure are elevation and how high a home sits, leaks in plumbing and other plumbing issues.
Some areas and homes off the grid rely on wells or rainwater for their water source.
Whether one chooses to live off-the-grid or improve the water pressure in our homes, a water pump is an essential part of a water system in moving water from one place to another. Depending on where the water source is coming from, the current state of the flow rate, the size of the inlet, maximum pressure, and using taps at the same time, one would need to consider several factors before purchasing the right water pump that works for their home [2].
• Different installations for household water pump. Google Images
There are many types of water pumps on the market from submersible well pumps to manual pumps. Submersible pumps are pumps that sit below the ground and are designed to push fluid to the surface as opposed to pulling it toward a house as jet pumps do. A manual pump is ideal for emergencies and temporary situations as they are lightweight, inexpensive, and require one to manually pump the water by hand. The manual pump is easy to install and remove from the well. Centrifugal pumps utilize a rotating impeller that forces water up the pipe and into the home. Impellers parts in the centrifugal pump do vary in size and how much water can be moved through them. Jet pumps are ideal for medium-depth wells. The jet pump uses an impeller and suction to pull water out from the well. The power sources that fuel water pumps can range from gasoline, electricity, and natural gas to name a few. Although there are many pumps for residential use based on water source, the two most used in most homes in America are centrifugal pumps and jet pumps.
• HSC30B Multistage Centrifugal Pump (Source: BHSC-R1.pdf (xylemappliedwater.com)
There is a variety of household water pumps to choose from. They use the same amount of energy no matter the energy source. Depending on the size of the home and the number of lines that will be connected to it, they are made with different sizes and power capacities. I looked at many water pumps from different manufacturers in the U.S and found two pumps by two manufacturers that supply pumps for residential homes and industries. The HSC30B model is a residential and commercial multi-stage centrifugal pump that is designed for general purpose pumping, water circulation and boost service with a steady quiet operation for years according to the manufacturer, Goulds Water Technology. This model is a three-phase model that has 3 horsepower (HP) with 230 volts, a capacity of 50 gallons per minute (GPM), and a pressure up to 100 psi (230ft). The Gould water pump motor is powered by electricity with a frequency of electricity of 60 hertz (Hz).
• TW1000-100G-30 Flag Frame Booster System (Source: https://towle-whitney.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/TW1000-100G-30-2MS-20-gal-Flag-Frame-Submittal.pdf)
The TW1000-100G-30 Flag Frame Booster System by Towle Whitney LLC is a centrifugal pump designed to control pump operation to maintain constant pressure regardless of demand or fluctuation according to the American manufacturer, Towle Whitney LLC. It comes with a variable frequency drive and has a 3 hp, 2.2 kilowatts (kW), and a flow rate of 100 GPM. The large HP pump is for larger two-story homes and is powered by electricity with a supply voltage ranging from 208-220 voltage alternating current (VAC) in 1-phase to 360-480 VAC in 3-phase. It is also designed and engineered to be compact with alternating booster pump sizing. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, the average person’s water usage a day is 70 gallons [1]. The average American family uses about 300 gallons of water per day at home. I couldn’t find real data on how many hours a day that water runs in the average home but if we were to factor in a couple of things such as running water for laundry, flushing toilets, washing hands, cooking, water plants outside, and other water uses throughout the day, I would estimate that to about 6 hours a day, but I could be over or underestimating so I will not to do the math using my estimate.
(If there are any readers that have any suggestions on the average hours a household runs water, I’m open to feedback because it would be useful in calculating energy use.)
If I had such information and access to real data, I would like to create two graphs where I can compare both systems to see how much energy is being used and how much pollution is being generated because they both run off electricity. I can also be able to see which water pump is best suitable for an average household.
Like food and other products, we consume, electronic machinery such as household water pumps have a life cycle and emits pollution throughout its lifetime.
When looking at the pollution that a water pump emits throughout its life, there are several things to consider such as the energy used, plumbing fixtures, and age of the system. Both pumps claim to be designed for energy efficiency, for instance, the water pump by Towle Whitney LLC is designed to be energy efficient by using a variable frequency drive (VFD) that controls pump operation to maintain constant pressure regardless of the fluctuation of incoming pressure and demand throughout the day stopping at 50% standard power [7]. When pumps are outdated with old technology, they can become expensive and be inefficient, so upgrading the water system is an alternative solution especially when it’s integrated with new technology such as VFD that is able to continuously improve pump speed and power consumption while maintaining constant pressure [8].
Environmental impacts can also influence low water pressure as weather can potentially damage plumbing systems from freezing temperatures that can damage pipes and put a strain on the system by using extra energy to heat the water [6]. Even when the tap runs for the water to heat up there is some freshwater loss as this occurs [8]. According to an article on plumbing and drain cleaning, the summer heat also has an effect on a system as it can be used more often during the hotter parts of the year and can cause pipes underground to crack when conditions are dry [6]. A Forbes article on freshwater wasting, overusing, or wasting household water limits the availability of freshwater for other communities to use for drinking, cooking, and other household needs – and thus contributes to water and agricultural scarcity [9]. While demand for water increase including an increase in population, there will be a need to pull fresh water from aquifers or groundwater supply causing more energy, time, and money to filter and clean water so that it’s drinkable for residents [9].
As mentioned, the pumps are powered by electricity which most likely comes from fossil fuels or coal and emits high loads of carbon emissions depending on the time frame to which is run throughout the day. The energy used will vary with the size and power capacity of the pump and the length of time it runs and pumps. With an average number of hours that a household uses water per day and how often it pumps, I can use that number as well as my local electric current rate to determine the costs of running one.
¶• Pump performance curves for both the Towle Whitney model and the Gould model household water pumps
If I had access to real-time data on time frames and what an average house needs, I could compare energy usage for both pumps and analyze that in comparison to their pressure head flow and performance. This includes the cost to replace a pump by type as there are many on the market. I would also like to compare that to alternative solutions like pumps powered by solar or manual pumping. If I had such data, the chart would look something similar to the graph below. I’m new to the different types of water pumps and the average use of one in a household, so I am open to comments including comments on the average costs of using one.
• Well pump replacement cost by type if there were some data I can use. Source: 2022 Well Pump Costs | New & Replacement Well Water Pump Prices (homeguide.com)
Water pumps can be a great addition to a home’s water system, but they can also consume a great amount of energy to power your household’s water pump. The best way to lower your carbon footprint on energy and water consumption is to minimize usage and switch to energy-efficient appliances that use water. When it comes to switching out a new water pump or maintenance one, it can be expensive so it’s best to check leaks, clogs, and other plumbing issues before doing any maintenance or upgrades which can save a person a lot of money in the long run, if it’s something that can be easily fixed [6].
References
1 How We Use Water | US EPA
2 What is a Water Booster Pump and How Does It Work? – Page 2 – Fresh Water Systems
3 How Does Water Move Through Your House? | Ben Franklin Plumbing (punctualplumberdallas.com)
4 How Living Off the Grid Works | HowStuffWorks
5 BHSC-R1.pdf (xylemappliedwater.com)
6 How Weather Can Affect Your Plumbing (and What to Do About It) — BL3 Plumbing & Drain Cleaning (bl3inc.com)
7 TW1000-100G-30-2MS-20-gal-Flag-Frame-Submittal.pdf (towle-whitney.com)
8 Sustainability and Environment: Improving the Efficiency of Water Systems | EHS Today
9 Why Wasting Water Is A Much Bigger Problem Than You Think (forbes.com)
And, next . . .
Mackenzie Glenn
Water Pump Analysis
No matter where you are located or whether or not you have made the decision to transition to off-grid living, your access to water is dependent on the performance of a water pump. While household water pumps inevitably vary in size and capacity, and different homes’ pumps will run during different parts of the day and for varying amounts of time, the energy required to run one is the same regardless of the source. Measuring the scope of your own energy use begins with an understanding of the technologies that drive your resource consumption patterns, and doing so can give you an advantage in terms of knowing how to minimize your own ecological footprint, and could even help you save some money!
Water pumps work mechanically to move water “from the bottom of a well, up to a storage tank” within whatever residence they supply, and although they do not run continuously, they do consume power when they activate and deactivate,[1] such as when you turn on the faucet to wash your hands, run your dishwasher, do your laundry, or take a shower.
In the United States, motor-driven water pumps, classified either as centrifugal pumps or submersible well pumps, are most common for residential use. This has been true since the 1940s when the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) first expanded electricity to rural areas and water no longer needed to be pumped by hand and hauled from domestic water wells. Jet pumps or centrifugal pumps function at surface-level and can be further classified as shallow or deep well pumps, while submersible water pumps are submerged down in the well water itself.
• Photo: https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/how-to/a152/1275136/
(The exceptions are those households or villages lucky enough to be near a dam, creek or river from which they may divert water to flow by gravity to their household or to use a water flow or water-driven pump – a hydraulic ram pump which can pump water uphill using the flowing power of the creek and so use the free energy of that water – this technology is so simple you can even build your own pump if you’re minded to: http://www.journeytoforever.org/at_waterpump.html - such as a Ram Company pump, and in Australia options include: https://glockemannwaterpumps.com/ , https://www.billabongwaterram.com/, and http://bamford.com.au/rampump/. This pump type is a cheap way to supply water to a household or village, and is particularly useful in remote villages in Papua New Guinea, Indonesia and suchlike.)
Each of these types of pumps has its own advantages.
The centrifugal or jet pumps are better in shallow wells, typically those that don’t exceed around twenty-five feet in depth. They utilize atmospheric pressure to create a vacuum which lifts the water up a hose. While these pumps can be modified to function at deeper levels, these designs are much more complex, and require the use of two pipes instead of one.[2]
Submersed pumps, on the other hand, are better equipped to “deliver higher capacities from deeper levels at significant pressures to the household water system” in comparison to centrifugal pumps. Submersible pumps function by utilizing water pressure to fill a home’s tank, which turns off when it’s full. When water is run in the home, a “pressure switch” is triggered in the tank, causing the pump to begin refilling the tank automatically.[2] In essence, “the submersible water well pump is designed to push water to the surface as opposed to sucking the water up into a storage tank” the way jet pumps do. As a result, submersible pumps are highly efficient, having the ability to move water extremely long distances without being limited by a well’s depth. However, they are also more difficult to service as they must be removed from the well in order to be maintained.
Despite this, submersed pumps in the United States have gained substantial popularity, though jet pumps still tend to be more common in regions with warmer climates and in areas where the water table is closer to the surface.
• Photo: https://inspectapedia.com/water/Submersible_Well_Pump_Operation.php
Empire Pump and Pump It Up Service Inc., a company operating out of Central Arizona in the United States, coordinates directly with manufacturers to distribute different types and brands of pumps, namely 4” residential submersible well pumps, 6” submersible turbine pumps, and jet pumps by Goulds, Grundfos, Berkeley, and the National Pump Company. They also distribute 2” and 4” Redi-flo environmental pumps, line-shaft turbine pumps, and sumps, though the 4” submersible pumps and the jet pumps are the most common in terms of general residential or home application. The performance range of a Goulds 4” submersible well pump is between 1 and 120 gpm (gallons per minute) and 0.5 to 10 hp (horsepower),[3] or anywhere between around 370 to nearly 7,500 watts. The shallow well jet pumps they sell typically push no more than 10 or 20 gpm and have a capacity of approximately 0.5 hp (roughly 370 watts), which, for smaller or average-sized homes, isn’t uncommon.
Many of these pumps are also certified through the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF) meaning they are “certified to pump drinking water without imparting chemical contaminants or impurities that can affect [an individual’s] health” or safety, something that is also vitally important when assessing the technologies associated with your access to clean water.[4]
The horsepower or wattage of a water pump is a unit of power that illustrates the “rate at which electricity is consumed or produced by a device,” meaning it represents not the explicit amount of electricity consumed but rather the hourly rate at which one will utilize it.[5] For those who aren’t already familiar with this concept, this literature regarding water and pump horsepower might be helpful. It was for me!
1 hs (1 mechanical horsepower) = 745.7 watts
https://www.lsuagcenter.com/~/media/system/f/a/4/2/fa425cb142d0f0c545fc8a4b020900a2/pub3241aunderstandingwaterhorsepower.pdf
This is important to consider when determining which pump is best suited for your home, as are the operational hours and your area’s electricity tariff, which refer to the number of hours an appliance is being used and “the amount [your] electricity provider charges you for one unit (kWh) of electricity,” respectively.
While no two plumbing systems are the same and no two households have precisely the same water consumption habits, it can be possible to calculate the power consumption of your own water pump.
By taking the “wattage of the specific water pump and [multiplying] it [by] how many hours a day it runs. Then, [multiplying] this number by how many days a year it runs,” and dividing this by 1,000, you can determine the amount of kilowatt-hours your pump is utilizing.
To further calculate the dollar amount per year utilized, you can multiply the kilowatt-hours by your local rate of electricity, “such as 8.5 cents per” kWh. It is important to keep in mind that “higher horsepower values, from 0.5 to 5 hp,” are going to consume more power. The size of your household’s water tank also plays a large part in how often the pump will cycle.[1]
While this may sound like a complicated endeavour it can serve as a great long-term investment, not only for your family’s finances but also for the environment!
Daily water use has a substantial impact on carbon dioxide emissions.
It’s estimated that “the energy needed to move, treat, and use water in the [United States] for both residential and commercial purposes produces nearly 290 million metric tonnes of CO2 annually, [or] the equivalent of 5% of the nation’s overall carbon emissions,” an amount that may seem small but is certainly significant.
• Photo: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200326-the-hidden-impact-of-your-daily-water-use
Additional data suggests that “the kitchen sink is actually the source of the most water-related carbon emissions in the home,” and that “keeping the kitchen tap running leads to approximately 157 kg of CO2 being released per year while the dishwasher produces 142 kg … the washing machine generates 118 kg and the bath creates 103 kg,” however, in newer homes it’s thought that the shower is the device which produces the highest carbon dioxide emissions.[6]
Ultimately, the average U.S. household produces the equivalent of approximately 7.5 tons of carbon dioxide each year and a substantial amount of this can be attributed to a family’s water use.[7]
Measuring your ecological footprint with regard to your household’s collective kilowatt-hours is also complicated by the fact that “emissions from electricity generation vary by type of fuel [or] energy source and by type and efficiency of [the] electric power plants” that provide service to your region.
And “the amount of CO2 produced per kWh during any period of time will vary according to the sources of electricity supplied to the electric power grid” during this time.[8]
• Photo: https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=74&t=11
While your household’s water pump can consume a substantial amount of energy and therefore contribute a great deal to your carbon footprint regardless of the wattage and capacity, minimizing your water use is the most effective way to ensure that you are both saving your money and aiding in environmental restoration.
In comparing the energy consumption discrepancies between households that utilize city water and those that rely on personal well pumps, this data can be difficult to access.
The well pumps described in this post are typically always going to utilize more electricity than a pipe system transporting and distributing city water to homes.
What’s difficult is that data related to personal wells is generally privatized. I think it would be helpful if more of this information were publicly available. And I welcome any constructive insight anyone may have with regard to this topic.
Citations
[1] “Power Consumption of Water Pumps.” Hunker, https://www.hunker.com/12467557/power-consumption-of-water-pumps.
[2] “Where in the Well It All Starts: Residential Water Pumps.” WCP Online, 11 May 2020, https://wcponline.com/2003/02/15/well-starts-residential-water-pumps/.
[3] 4 Submersible Pumps - Xylem Applied Water. https://documentlibrary.xylemappliedwater.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/22/files/2015/05/BR4INGBB-R2.pdf.
[4] “Looking for NSF Certified Pumps?” National Pump Company, 21 Oct. 2019, https://www.nationalpumpcompany.com/blog/looking-nsf-certified-pumps.
[5] “Water Pump Power Consumption Calculator: 0.2 Hp to 20 Hp Calculation.” Lets Save Electricity, 4 Apr. 2020, https://letsavelectricity.com/water-pump-power-consumption-calculator/.
[6] “The Hidden Impact of Your Daily Water Use.” BBC Future, BBC, https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20200326-the-hidden-impact-of-your-daily-water-use#:~:text=The%20energy%20needed%20to%20move,the%20nation's%20overall%20carbon%20emissions.
[7] “Forest Preserves Champaign County.” The Average US Household Produces 7.5 Tons of CO2 Equivalents per Year. Here Are Things You Can Do to Help Reduce That Amount, https://www.ccfpd.org/Portals/0/Assets/PDF/Facts_Chart.pdf.
[8] “Frequently Asked Questions (Faqs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).” Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) - U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), https://www.eia.gov/tools/faqs/faq.php?id=74&t=11.