Water — Product Guide
A deep well hand pump is the only well backup that works without fuel, without electricity, and without anything that can run out. One installation, then water indefinitely. This page covers the two serious options, the one number that determines which you need, and what installation actually involves.
How it works
A deep well hand pump works on the same principle as pumps used for centuries: a piston inside a cylinder creates alternating low pressure (drawing water up from the well) and positive pressure (pushing water out the spout). The drop pipe carries water up from the well; the handle operates the piston. No electricity, no fuel, no batteries.
The key engineering challenge for deep wells is that the piston cylinder must be at or below the water level — for a well with a static water level of 100 feet, the cylinder sits at depth. Each stroke moves water up 100+ feet to the surface. This is why output per stroke and pumping effort both increase with depth, and why static water level is the defining specification.
Both the Simple Pump and Bison Pump solve this with a drop pipe assembly that extends down the well casing alongside the existing electric pump and pipe. The pump head mounts at the surface. Installation doesn't disturb the electric system — both operate from the same well independently.
What you need to know before buying
Static water level
The distance from the surface to the water in your well at rest. This is the lift the pump must overcome. Found on your well driller's report, or measured by a well driller.
Well casing diameter
Must be at least 4 inches to accommodate the hand pump drop pipe alongside the existing pump. Most modern wells are 4–6 inches. Older dug wells may be larger; bored wells may be smaller.
Well cap type
The existing well cap must be modified or replaced to accommodate the hand pump drop pipe passing through it alongside the existing electric pump pipe and wiring.
Household daily requirement
Calculate how much water your household needs per day (see the How Much to Store guide). This determines whether a hand pump's output per session is adequate.
The critical number
Every hand pump purchase, pipe length calculation, and output estimate depends on this single number. Don't guess. Find it.
Well driller's report. When your well was drilled, the driller filed a report with your county or state health department. This report lists well depth, casing diameter, pump setting depth, and static water level at time of drilling. Search "[your state] well driller report" + your address, or contact your county health department. Many states have made these searchable online.
Contact a well driller. A licensed well driller can drop a water level meter down your casing to measure the current static level. This is a short service call, typically modest in cost, and gives you a current measurement (the original report may be decades old — water table levels can shift).
Contact the pump manufacturer. Both Simple Pump and Bison Pump have technical support teams that can help determine static water level from your existing pump specifications if you know the pump make, model, and pump depth setting.
Under 50 feet
~5 gal/min possible
Light pumping effort. High daily output achievable in short sessions. Many shallow wells are in this range. Shallow well hand pumps may be adequate and less expensive at this depth.
50–150 feet
~2–4 gal/min
The most common range for residential deep wells in many regions. Moderate effort. A family of four can meet drinking and cooking needs in 15–30 minutes of pumping per day.
150–250 feet
~1–2 gal/min
Noticeable pumping effort. Daily household drinking and cooking water requires 30–60 minutes of pumping. Motorization (Simple Pump's 12V kit) becomes more attractive at this depth range.
250+ feet
<1 gal/min
High effort, lower output. Hand pumping is still a viable emergency backup but becomes labor-intensive for daily household use. Solar or 12V motorization is strongly recommended at these depths.
Output figures are approximate and vary by pump model, pump condition, water table level, and individual pumping pace. Manufacturer documentation provides more precise figures for specific models and depths.
The comparison
Both are American-made, designed for installation alongside existing submersible pumps, rated to 250+ feet, and built to last decades. The differences are in design philosophy, motorization options, and price.
simplepump.com — Modular, motorizable, SS drop pipe
Simple Pump uses stainless steel drop pipe sections (3-foot and 5-foot segments) that thread together during installation. The modular design makes it easier to install without a pump truck — sections feed down the casing one at a time. The pump head is stainless steel and designed for all-weather operation including freezing temperatures.
The standout advantage over Bison Pump is the 12V DC motorization kit. A small electric motor replaces the manual handle operation and can be powered by a battery bank, a solar panel, or any 12V source. The same pump transitions from hand-operated to solar-powered depending on what power is available — without removing or modifying the pump.
Simple Pump is also configurable to pump directly into a pressure tank, allowing it to supply the household's existing plumbing under pressure (rather than hand-filling containers at the spout). This is a significant convenience advantage for daily use.
Best for: Households that want motorization flexibility, households with solar capability, or those who want to plumb the pump into the household pressure system.
bisonpumps.com — Robust mechanism, lifetime warranty
Bison Pump uses heavy-duty cast iron and stainless steel construction with a mechanical design that has remained largely unchanged for decades — a proven track record in harsh conditions. The cylinder mechanism is known for smooth operation and long service life. Bison offers a lifetime warranty on the stainless steel components.
The drop pipe is PVC rather than stainless steel, which reduces cost but also reduces overall longevity compared to Simple Pump's all-stainless configuration. PVC drop pipe is widely available and inexpensive to replace if needed. Installation is similar to Simple Pump — sections fed down the casing during setup.
Bison does not offer a motorization kit. The pump is hand-operated only. For households that want strictly manual operation with proven mechanical reliability and a lower entry price, Bison is the standard recommendation.
Best for: Households that want a lower entry cost, proven manual-only operation, or are in the mid-depth range (50–150 feet) where motorization is less critical.
Ready to choose?
Current pricing, installation cost breakdowns, output data at different depths, and the specific configuration recommendations for each pump at different static water levels.
Shallow wells
Deep well hand pumps (Simple Pump, Bison Pump) are designed for wells with water at 25 feet or deeper. Shallow wells — where the static water level is under 25 feet — can use simpler suction-based pump designs that are significantly less expensive and easier to install.
At depths under 25 feet, atmospheric pressure limits — suction can lift water no more than about 25 feet — so the cylinder can sit at the surface rather than in the well. This eliminates the complex drop pipe assembly that makes deep well pumps expensive.
The Lehman's cast-iron pitcher pump is the most recommended option for shallow wells. It mounts over the well casing with a simple seal, the handle drives a suction piston at the surface, and it produces water in a flow that's practical for daily use at shallow depths. Cast-iron construction is durable and repairable with standard parts.
If your well is in the 25–50 foot range, consult with a well driller about the specific depth and whether a shallow or deep well pump configuration is appropriate. The boundary is not a hard line — dynamic water level (when pumping) matters as well as static level.
Shallow well hand pump options
Lehman's cast-iron pitcher pump
The standard recommendation for shallow wells. Mounts over the casing, surface-mounted cylinder, traditional pump handle. Cast-iron body and brass-fitted cylinder. Repairable with standard replacement leathers and cups available at hardware stores. Works for wells up to 20–22 feet of static water level.
Simple Pump shallow well configuration
Simple Pump also offers a shallow well configuration for water at 0–25 feet. More expensive than a Lehman's but motorization-compatible and installable alongside a shallow submersible pump. The right choice if motorization flexibility matters or if you plan to upgrade to a deeper well later.
Flojak foot-operated pump
A foot-operated pump that works to approximately 30 feet of static water level. More portable than a fixed installation but lower output. Useful as a secondary option or for very shallow dug wells.
Installation
Both Simple Pump and Bison Pump are designed for DIY installation by a reasonably handy homeowner. Neither requires pulling the existing electric pump. The general process:
Measure and order. Determine static water level, confirm casing diameter, and order the pump with the appropriate drop pipe length. Manufacturers provide configuration guides based on your specifications.
Modify the well cap. The existing well cap must be adapted to allow the hand pump drop pipe to pass through alongside the existing pump pipe and wiring. Both manufacturers provide a new well cap or an adapter as part of the system.
Feed the drop pipe. Drop pipe sections thread together and are lowered down the casing one at a time. For deep wells, this requires care to avoid tangling the existing pump wiring. Two people simplifies the process.
Mount the pump head and test. The pump head mounts on the well cap or on a separate mounting bracket. Prime the pump (fill the drop pipe with water), then pump to verify flow. Both manufacturers provide step-by-step installation guides and support.
For wells deeper than 150 feet, professional installation is worth considering — the drop pipe assembly becomes heavier and more unwieldy, and proper seating of the lower check valve at depth requires attention. A local well driller who is familiar with the pump system can install it efficiently.
Tools needed for DIY installation
Sanitary seal requirement
Any modification to the well cap or seal must maintain a sanitary seal around all penetrations — the well cap must prevent surface water, insects, and debris from entering the casing. Both manufacturers design their adapters with this requirement in mind, but verify that the final installation is properly sealed before considering the work complete.
Motorization
Simple Pump's 12V DC motorization kit replaces the manual pump handle with a small electric motor. The motor requires very little power — typically 60–120 watts at operating depth — compared to the 750–2,000+ watts a submersible pump needs. A modest solar panel array (200–400 watts) can run the Simple Pump motor during daylight, filling a storage tank above-ground for gravity-fed household use.
The manual handle can be reinstalled at any time, making the system truly dual-mode: solar-powered in good conditions, hand-operated when sun isn't available or the motor fails. This redundancy is what makes the Simple Pump + 12V kit the most resilient well backup option for households with any off-grid power capability.
The motorized configuration also allows the pump to be integrated with a timer or float valve — filling a holding tank automatically without continuous attention, then using gravity to supply the house from the tank.
Cost analysis
Generator approach
Does not provide water during extended fuel shortages or when the generator fails.
Hand pump approach
Works during any outage, any duration, regardless of fuel supply.
The hand pump's cost advantage grows with every year of ownership. After 5 years the hand pump has typically cost less than the generator approach on a total-cost basis — and it provides water under conditions a generator cannot.
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