Points to be known to construct a mini pump house for building./ Creating a pump house in a right way. ~ PARAM VISIONS

In the residential buildings, we install a water pump to supply water from the UG water tank or from the open well into the overhead tank.

But, the pump needs protection from the external environments to be fit & last long.. Right!

I have seen the building owners who think of it in the later stage & install the pumps in an improper manner as shown below.

As you can observe in the above image, the pump is unnecessarily occupying the room space.

The best option is to construct a mini pump house nearer to the suction tank or adjoining the building wall.

Given below are some of the points or ideas to construct the mini pump house in a better way.

1. Dimension:

You have to provide an offset of at least 150mm. (6") on all sides of the pump. On the suction side of the pump, the gap between the wall & pump should be 200mm. (8") & above. At the time of repair & maintenance, you need extra space to turn the pipe wrench for disassembling.

The pump house should be built after the purchase of the water pump. This is because all types of pumps vary in their dimensions.

2. Floor level:

The floor level of the pump house should be at least 150mm. (6") above the ground level. Make a concrete bed with a neatly finished top surface. Use granite, Kota, or any stone slabs of 1" to 1.5" thickness as the water pump base.

All these provisions save the pump from dampness & keep the floor in a fully dry condition.

3. Waterproofing:

The interior & exterior wall surface of the pump house should be plastered to block the entry of moisture. If possible use a waterproofing compound while plastering.

4. Top slab:

The top slab should be overhung from the wall surface on all four sides. The minimum overhung measurement should be 150mm. (6"). The slab should have an adequate slope to drain the rainwater.

Use an RCC slab or impermeable stone slab to cover the top of the pump house. These slabs should be kept without any joints so that we can lift them when necessary. The slabs act as an opening to access the pump.