Why irrigators and pump companies should consider using a drip-well system on their oil lubed turbine pumps:
Inadequate drip oiling is the leading cause of turbine irrigation pump failure. All pump companies will tell you that it is absolutely essential that the bearings in your pump get plenty of oil during operation.
Continuous dripping (when your pump is not in operation) wastes oil and causes water contamination. Excess oil when your pump is not running will rise to the top of the water table and floats in the well casing. Many wells have from three to five feet of oil floating on the water and it has been reported that occasionally pump repairmen will find as much as 30-40 feet of oil in the casing! This not only can cause water contamination but also causes perforation build up.
Automatic operation assures bearing lubrication whenever the well is pumping. The drip well valve is often perceived as an automatic shut-off. The truth is that drip wells are a complete oiling system which are primarily about lubricating pumps reliably and efficiently. They not only shut down your oil drip when the pump shuts down but more importantly, they start dripping when the pump starts up whether the operator is there or even if he should forget to manually check it.
COST SHARE
The Upper Loup NRD, as part of their water quality program, offers cost share for the purchase of drip wells. Cost share is 50% of the actual cost. The District will pay cost share on a maximum of 2 drip wells per producer per year. An application can be obtained online by clicking on the link below or by contacting our office.