I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction for a hand pump. I have 1.25 inch pvc pipe running from my house down to my pond. The distance is about 250ft and drop is about 14ft. Would it be possible to use a *hand* pump to pull water from the pond? I'm hoping I can install a small hand pump at the house and pull water from the pond to water small outside plants.

My searches have turned up pumps over $500 which is too much. I was hoping to find something under $150 or build one myself (preferred), if I could find the plans for something that would work. Any one got any good links for a do it yourself that would work with what I'm trying to do?

For that price you can buy a 1" Honda pump and move a lot more water. With a hand pump, you might be better off with a 5 gallon bucket.

http://www.bisonpumps.com/index.htm

http://www.survivalunlimited.com/handwaterpumpshallow.htm

Couldn't find prices on the bison.

thanks for the responses guys.

I realize I could accomplish the same thing with an electric or gas pump but I really want to install a manual hand pump.

I saw the bison pumps and they are $800++. The survival link had some interesting info I haven't seen before.

"For every 50' horizontal run add 1' to depth of water, and for every 1000' of land elevation add 1' also which reduces the level at which you can pump your water up from."

So if my math is correct (assuming sea level), I'm looking at (14ft + (250/50))= 19ft which is close to the limit of 20ft for the "Open Top Pitcher Pump". I think I'll give them a call and run my application by them to see if it will work.

Wow, I didn't think hand pumps could get that expensive!

Everything can get expensive.. I'm never surprised anymore..

I couldn't get confirmation from the manufacturer about the pump working in my application. I'll have to wait until I got some money to burn on one of the more expensive pumps.

Better wait and get it right rather than to blow the $ and have to spend it twice. Thanks for the update.

You ever YOUtube home made hand pumps? Kind of interesting.

Yes, I saw lots of interesting pumps on youtube. Amazing what people can do with PVC. Didn't see good plans for what I'm trying to do.