Well Pump Installation in Spokane County: Types, Rules and Trades

Installing a well pump means choosing a pump type that fits the well, then fitting it with the tank, switch and wiring. Under Ecology's rules, replacing a pump is not counted as altering a well, but other trades and rules can still apply.

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What installation involves

A pump installation puts a pump into service in a well, either as a replacement for an old pump or as part of a new well. The choice of pump depends on how deep the water is, how wide the casing is and how much water the household needs.

University of Nebraska Extension publication G2152 describes a submersible pump as about 3.5 inches across and 2 to 3 feet long, set below the water level in casing of at least 4 inches, needing no frost protection and pulled from the well for repair. It describes a shallow-well jet pump as meant for water less than 25 feet down, above ground and easy to reach but needing frost protection and priming, and losing its prime if air leaks in. A deep-well jet pump is for water 25 to 250 feet down and is pulled for service. It says jet pumps give lower pressure and yield than submersibles.

Under Ecology's well rules, replacing a pump is not counted as altering a well. WAC 173-162-030 says well alterations include deepening, hydrofracturing or other operations meant to increase well yields or change the well's characteristics, and do not include general maintenance, cleaning, sanitation and pump replacement. That does not mean no rules apply. Pump work can involve other trades, and each has its own registration or license.

When people look into this

A pump has failed and a new one is needed.
A new well has been drilled and needs a pump.
A landowner wants a different type of pump.
Water demand has grown and the pump no longer keeps up.
A tank or switch is being replaced at the same time.
A landowner is comparing a jet pump with a submersible.

What the work usually looks like

Describe the well. Depth, casing size, water level and history.
Choose the pump. The type is picked to fit the well and demand.
Agree on the scope. Pump, tank, switch, wiring and trades go in writing.
Check registrations. Each company is checked on the L&I page.
Install. The pump is set and fitted by the trades named in the scope.
Test. Pressure, flow and the water are checked afterward.

How to prepare

Before work starts, it helps to settle these points:

Gather the well report and any paperwork on the old pump.
Note the depth to water and the casing size if you know them.
Ask which pump type each company proposes and why.
Ask whether the tank, switch and wiring are included.
Ask which trades are involved.
Check each company's registration on the L&I page.
Ask about water testing afterward.
Get the price in writing.

What affects the cost

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For installation, the pump type and what goes with it matter most.

Pump type. Submersible and jet pumps differ in cost and in how they are installed.
Depth. Deeper wells take more pipe and cable.
Casing size. Narrow casing limits pump choices.
Related parts. Tank, switch, wiring and fittings.
Trades. Electrical and plumbing work can be separate trades.
Access. How easily equipment reaches the well.
Testing. Water testing afterward is separate.

Fitting the pump to the well

A pump that is too big for a well can pull it down faster than it recovers, and one that is too small leaves the household short. The fit depends on depth, casing size, water level and demand. That is why the first conversation should be about the well, not the pump.

Bring the well report if you have one. It records depth, casing and often the yield, which are the facts a professional needs. If you do not have it, ask how the company will find these out and whether that is in the price.

Local rules and sources

Pump types. University of Nebraska Extension publication G2152 describes a submersible pump as about 3.5 inches across and 2 to 3 feet long, set below the water level in casing of at least 4 inches, needing no frost protection and pulled from the well for repair. It describes a shallow-well jet pump as meant for water less than 25 feet down, above ground and easy to reach but needing frost protection and priming, and losing its prime if air leaks in. A deep-well jet pump is for water 25 to 250 feet down and is pulled for service. It says jet pumps give lower pressure and yield than submersibles.

Ecology's rules. Under Ecology's well rules, replacing a pump is not counted as altering a well. WAC 173-162-030 says well alterations include deepening, hydrofracturing or other operations meant to increase well yields or change the well's characteristics, and do not include general maintenance, cleaning, sanitation and pump replacement.

Trades. Pump work can involve other trades: contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions. Check a company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page.

Testing. The Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and also when you notice a change in taste, color or smell, after flooding, and after you replace any part of your well system. Your county health department can tell you how and where to have it tested.

Safety. Work on pump wiring, pressure tanks and wells can involve electricity, stored pressure and, in some cases, contaminated water, so it belongs with a qualified professional.

Reasons to trust this page

Most statements on this page name their public source, such as the Department of Health or the Department of Ecology.
Cost factors are explained in plain terms, and this site does not quote prices.
The email address is shown at the top of every page, and the Privacy page says what a quote request collects.

Common questions

What type of pump does my well need?

It depends on the depth to water, the casing size and household demand. University of Nebraska Extension says a submersible pump sits below the water level in casing of at least 4 inches, a shallow-well jet pump suits water less than 25 feet down, and a deep-well jet suits 25 to 250 feet. Ask the professional why they chose theirs.

Does installing a pump need a well permit in Washington?

Ecology's well rules say replacing a pump is not counted as altering a well, and WAC 173-162-030 lists general maintenance, cleaning, sanitation and pump replacement as outside the definition. Other trades and local rules can still apply, so ask which, and check with Spokane County and your health district.

Who installs a well pump?

A qualified, registered professional. Contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions. Check each company on the L&I page and ask which trades the job involves.

Should I test the water after installation?

The Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and also after you replace any part of your well system. A pump is part of that system. Ask your county health department how and where to test, and keep the result with the paperwork.

What affects the cost of a pump installation?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. The pump's type and the well's depth and casing size matter most, along with the tank, switch and wiring in the scope, the trades involved and testing. Get a written scope that lists what is included, so prices cover the same work.

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