I have a well system at my cottage, but it is very low flow rate .5 gallons per minute, how do I compensate for the low flow rate?

Do you know where your pumps setting is? How to adjust water pump pressure, pump cut-on pressure and pump cut-off pressure - private pump and well system do-it-yourself repairs (http://www.inspectapedia.com/water/WaterPumpAdjust.htm)

I'm not sure if the pump is submerged, but if I adjust the pump cut-on/cut off, at all I'll need to get the pump primed again. The flow rate is the well, not the pump. Would adding a holing tank help?

What material are the pipes? Copper. Plastic or galvanized? How old? What's the cut out point on your control box?
Do you have good pressure when you first open a faucet and then it just peters out?
Let me know, Tom

Water pressure is low all the time, but the real issue is, if I take a 12 minute shower & then wash the dishes, my well pump needs to be primed. Pipes are copper, probably 15 years + old.

If you're losing prime this could be one of two things.
1) A leak in the suction line, **OR**
2) a faulty check/foot valve.
My guess would be door number two. Good luck, Tom

The pump & check valve are fine. My problem is that the well does not produce enough water. So I ask again. Will a storage tank help, or am I drilling a new well?

The pump & check valve are fine. My problem is that the well does not produce enough water. So I ask again. Will a storage tank help, or am I drilling a new well?I
the real issue is, if I take a 12 minute shower & then wash the dishes, my well pump needs to be primed. DId this problem fix itself? So do you have two problems? Not enough volume and losing prime? Back to you, Tom

The only problem I have is that I run out of water. With a flow rate of less than 1/2 a gpm. Will a holding tank help?

Yes, however if you are running out of water after a 12 minute shower and running the dish washer, you have a well capacity problem.

Allowing for a few gallons of water for the dish washer and 1/2 gallons per minute for a 12 minute shower you have about 10 gallons of water available at the bottom of the well.

Doesn't sound like you are losing your prime, sounds like you just running out of water at the bottom of the well.

If I am correct, you could put in a holding tank but you will run out of water before filling the tank. You would have to restrict the flow to something below the rate which the well cavity regenerates its self. One half gallon per minute is already a very low flow.

Depends on a couple of things. You could certainly add a holding tank. In theory, you could pump during down times and fill a 200 gallon tank. HOwever, you would then have to add a second pump to pump from the holding tank to a pressure tank. And, you would still have the problem of the pump losing prime occasionally which is a real drag.

You could also consider adding a second, larger, pressure tank. If you added an 80 gallon bladder tank, you would probably have 20 gallons or so of water available before the pump would have to cut on.

I would suggest having a well pro come out and take a look at things before you go to a lot of trouble and expense for a half-baked solution. You might simply need a new pump, or it might be that some modifications to your setup would solve your problem.

Thanks All, Much appreciated.