Water tank pick up issues.

[auscab]

We have a concrete water tank supplying the house with water. The builder of it ( many years ago) installed a copper pipe pick up at the bottom of the tank floor as it was built. It picks up sand and rubbish and keeps blocking the filter at the pump. I filter as best I can the water that enters the tank. Things go wrong sometimes so stuff gets through.

I was thinking that maybe I could fit a new pickup line going over the top of the tank and down stopping 125mm off the bottom with a foot valve on the end.
Would that work for a house water supply?

[r3nov8or]

I don't run tanks, but a mate does (2 of), and I reckon his pick ups are about a foot off the bottom. I've not heard him complain about filter or water quality problems. Takes about a decade for silt/buildup problems to arise. He cleans one or the other every 5 years or so

Could you just extend the current line upwards, to be well clear of the bottom? But I guess if it's very full, a new line would mean you do it and stay dry :)

PS I don't see why a new line over the top would be a problem, as long as the pump is powerful enough, which I suspect it is as it can feed the house

[droog]

The pickup should not be at the bottom for exactly the reason of the problems you are having.
Issue with running a new line over the top for pickup is losing prime in the pump. Most pumps used for this setup are not self priming.

[auscab]

I dont think I can extend the copper at the bottom of the tank. Its half embedded into the concrete and just sticking out a little.
Foot valve should keep the pump primed I thought but can they be relied upon to work for years is what I was thinking?

[droog]

Foot valve should keep the pump primed

Yep that is the key.
It won’t take much air to form a pocket in the pump and that is the problem you will face with an intake that rises above surface level.

Not saying it won’t work but if it was that easy why don’t all the tank manufacturers do it that way ?

[ForeverYoung]

I dont think I can extend the copper at the bottom of the tank. Its half embedded into the concrete and just sticking out a little.
Foot valve should keep the pump primed I thought but can they be relied upon to work for years is what I was thinking?
sticking out a little inside or outside the tank?
can you get in the tank and just put a riser on the existing outlet?
just a poly pipe elbow with a 150mm riser will help heaps.