I had the same concern with the rough drought we have had here in East Texas the past couple of years. Luckily I had an existing well and all I had to do was replace the pump. 3hp 3 phase pump is providing me with 25+ gpm. I ran it 3 weeks in November and all of December 2011 and the month of December (don't recall Novembers increase) it added about 120 dollars to our electricity bill. The well shed is on its own meter and that is the only thing besides one electrical outlet that is on the meter. I had my well water tested prior to filling my pond and it was PH 6.75 Alkalinity 20ppm. It was well worth the investment for my situation, I just wish at the time I would have went with a 10hp pump @ 80gpm.
Why so much HP for so little flow? I'm using either a 3/4 or 1 hp 220a motor and I'm getting 25 gpm from my well.
