Use of Pool pump at the Lake side..??

Hey Folks
I have a Hayward Pool filter, pool pump 3/4 hp thats laying around since the pool decomission Can i use it at my property where there is available lake water, the lake water is darker in color, mucky, I dont mean to use it for drinking but probably say for washing toys at the workshop or something, Can it be repurposed..or is it a bad idea.? Appreciate.

 

Sand or DE?

 

I’d imagine the DE would get expensive. This would work best with sand but to answer your question yes. I’d try to position the suction of the pump from a lower depth in the lake/pond as system needs to be air tight or you’ll lock up your pump

 

Do you otherwise have running water? I’d imagine the electricity to run the filter is more than the cost of water out of the faucet…

 

When living on Lake Murray, we drew lake water for irrigation. Never tried it but using brown water to clean things seems contrary, even if filtered. DE will filter finer than sand and may quickly clog. Or not…but I think you still end up with brown water.
Irrigation and pool pumps are different. Irrigation will have a cast volute, no debris trap and usually have better head specification because they’re usually higher HP.
Since you have the expensive parts already trying it out may be worth a shot. You do need a check valve at the intake end and a screened intake nozzle. That intake unit needs to be weighted so it stays on the bottom. You can diy the intake with a quad tee, 45* and 2 caps. Your existing pump is probably 1 1/2 or 2” pipe so run that.

 

You might not be able to draw water up from the lake to the pump. My pool pump is designed to be placed below below the water level of the pool and if it does pick up air it just cavitates without pulling in water. These pumps provide a high volume but very little pressure so that may not suit your needs. Sand filters will not catch the fine particles that gives lake water the brown color. Bugs and leaves yes but silt? Nope. There are additives that can be added to pool water to help get the fine particles out but that isn't going to help you.

Put that pump and filter on CL or FB and buy a submersible pump.

 

Its Sand filter

 

Its Off grid, Have got engh some solar power at the site, would want to use it upon demand purposes only.

 

Thanks for the response all, Yeah you make sense about the pressure especially if i have to take the water over 500ft across. Also the fact that it needs to be below water level makes me think.

 

Is there a structure there (cabin, house)?
Can you dig a well? (Or is there municipal water at the road?) Electric on site?
A well would be a large initial cost, but then you'd have water.

 

- Yes just a cabin, Just solar, No municipal water, I can get permit n dig a borewell.

 

Depending on the lift height you need, you could use a smaller volume, higher lift pump to move water to an elevated reservoir such as above ground pool. Filter it with this unit through a few different filter medias and a UV light and get relatively clean water that you could use. When the supply is used up, refill from the lake and repeat. Look into pond biofiltering, methods, and also vegetable filtering, using plants such as water hyacinth to clean up and balance the water. There is a way, which may or may not make sense depending on your own circumstances and resources. Good luck!

 

Since you said you’ll be using it on demand purposes only it doesn’t sound like it’ll be running consistently. I’d sell it (if you can) and go buy a cheap trash pump from harbor freight. Pump that into a storage system above whatever you plan to use it for and can filter/pump as needed from there. Just another option and my $.02