Just bought a cheap Pacifichydrostar 1 hp pump for emergencies if our main well goes out. While reading I notice the statement not for potable water. What gives? I want to use it for drinking and wash water and is there a problem??

Dan

Hi dmascheck and Welcome to The Plumbing Page. At AskMeHelpDesk.com. I've tried to pull up the specs on this pump but no joy. That doesn't sound right. Can you copy and past the part that says the pump's unfit for drinking water, I want to know what mates it unfit. Does then manual explain this? Back to m you. Tom

Give us a model #. PH makes a BUNCH of pump models for many applications including gas powered, 12 volt, and 120/240 volt. What do you have?

What is the model number. It is probably not designed to be used in a domestic water system.

A domestic water system pump will probably be built with stainless steel or some other non corrosive material. An irrigation pump might not be. In time the irrigation pump might contaminate the water. Stating that is not for potable water would relieve liability.

Then again the pump might simply not be built for the frequent starting and stopping of a domestic water system. An irrigation pump would be built to run for extended periods and not for the short on/off conditions of a domestic well system.

Thanks Harold, You just answered my question to a tee. It never crossed my mind about a irrigation pump. Like I said. I learn a lot just hanging around you guys. Thanks again, Tom

OK sports fans!

The model number is 69302 from Harbor Freight! From Pacifichydrostar Shallow Well pump. Called their help line wich gets you in contact with a guy in India that knows little. I was on a cell, driving and could not call the help line, but they say they will contact you back in 24/48 hours! THANKS!

Page 3 of their owners manual says NOT FOR POTABLE WATER. Then go to page 4 which shows a schematic showing the pump installed to household water system!

What can be wrong, so you can't use it on the house? I bought it as a back up if my main well goes out and want to install it for a back up only!

I also notice Northern Tool has the same pump, just a different name and number.

Dan

No, I learn from you Tom. If fact when I grow up I want to be just like you.

Harbor Freight literature is for two pumps models, 69302 and 69305. 69302 is stainless pump, 69305 is cast iron pump. Who knows if the "NOT FOR POTABLE WATER" applies to both, probably just to the cast iron version.

Amazon version appears to be the same pump but model number is not given. Amazon calls it a well booster pump. Harbor Freight literature states that is is not to be used as a booster pump.

You have noted that the maximum well depth is 26 feet.


Not only was the pump made in China, the literature was written in China.

Considering I'm only using it for emergencies I'll chance it! I noticed Northern Tools has the same pump under their trade mark Welbuilt! Says it's fine for water and it is the same stainless one and they show no other! They show it installed in a house in their graphic!

Two probable answers, both with probable minor danger!

CA first, then the US, outlawed potable uses of brass and other
alloys containing lead or other certain metals. They also
outlawed all potable use of lead-tin solder alloys (for the lead,
not the tin). Since small manufacturers have a hard time forcing
compliance by Chinese contractors, the easiest approach it to
outlaw potable use. The tanks are almost certainly similar to
last year's models, which are almost identical visually.

The 47906 manual, since 2002, has warned that the pump contains
brass components known to contain lead, a known carcinogen in CA.
Of course, just like all brass did before CA outlawed that type
for potable use. New brass is always a bit more expensive, and
it may be hard to control the vendors...

The 1 HP stainless models I know of so far have been :
47906 (Aug 2010)(rated 920 GPH, 164 ft head, 20 / 50 PSI pressure
cycle, no current spec). This only drew 700W, and flow was
identical to the 3/4 HP of that vintage. They probably used a
3/4 HP pump on a 1 HP motor, which, of course, will only draw &
deliver 3/4 HP, using about 700W) (failed at 11 months; it would
only start cold, and never restart soon after running for an
hour, making the tank cycling useless).
47906 (Aug 2011)(same spec)(This drew 900W, with substantially
more flow. Yet, I never got over 8 GPM, 480 GPH, from an open
output 1" pipe at the pump, using a 1 1/2" suction line 60 feet
long with 4 feet of suction!). I got 6GPM from an open pipe 46
feet above the pump and 200 feet away, and the same flow at 40 PSI
after flowing through a Harbor Freight 3/4 HP cast iron pump with tank,
as a booster. The booster pump is not safe without a check valve at
its input, or else water flows back down the pipe whenever the
booster cycles. After 10 months, the pressure cycle switch failed
to shut off, then a month later the pump only ran 3 minutes then
would stop pumping, even though still primed.
69302 (Aug 2012)(920GPH, 98 ft max delivery, 120V, 4.5A, 20 / 35
PSI cycle). Not installed yet. The lower pressure limits imply it
may have higher flow. However, the 4.5A current won't support even
3/4 HP. 1 HP = 746W; 4.5A is only 540W, 72 HP, BEFORE LOSSES.
I hope the 4.5A is a misprint. Either the current will be much
higher, or it is under 3/4HP. A better pump design would do much
better, though, even at this power. I plan to install it tomorrow.
68387 (Aug 2012) This is listed as a 69302 alternate. I can't
find it on the website, but found the manual there.
Rating: 950GPH, 115 ft max lift, 120V, 7.82A, 30 / 50 PSI cycle.
This sounds like a much better choice than the 69302. It is also
the first pump in this series that looks radically different, with
the pressure switch and gauge at the pump output rather than poked
into the pump chamber. This seems like a better engineering choice,
much more consistent with american well practice. BUT, there seems
to be no stock anywhere.
I wonder if anyone here has seen the 68387 pump in operation.

This pump also states it needs an automatic float switch, but no directions or what type to buy. Help

PG, you've posted on an old thread. Give us a few details. What kind of pump and what are you using it for?

My Pacific Hydrostar pump worked fine, but now it just hums and won't pump. What gives??