The types of hand pumps available today are many and varied. Your well depth, the static water level of your well (the depth of water in your well casing/pipe) and the size of your well casing will determine the type of hand pump you require.
Shallow wells, where the static water level is less than 25′ will only require the most basic pump. The shallow well pump works on suction or drawing action and normally must be primed to start the pumping of water.
The deep well hand pump works on a different principle. This kind of pump forces the water up a pumping pipe using a piston and foot valve at the bottom of a pump casing with the pumping pipe in the center. This is then placed in the well casing and reaches below the static water level. Normally the foot valve and piston are placed approximately 20′ to 25′ below the static water level. This is to provide an adequate water supply in the casing pipe for use. Otherwise the pump would have very little water to draw.
The most common materials used in pump manufacturing is cast iron and many are imported from China or India. The old fashioned or antique look of these pumps is very popular. However, most are used for shallow wells or garden decoration.
Other pumps designed for deeper wells are constructed from cast iron, welded steel, stainless steel and PVC piping. The actual piping that goes below ground is mostly PVC piping which is used for the pump casing and pumping pipe. The foot valves are brass or plastic with a neoprene poppet that prevents water from leaking back into the well during pumping.
The costs of many pumps depend on the static water level of the well. The deeper the static water level, the more piping is needed and this increases the cost.
In Conclusion: A Water Well Hand Pump for emergency use is becoming more popular due to power outages caused by Hurricanes and severe weather.