Q: How many gallons per minute would a private well need to produce in order to irrigate a small grass area around the house? What would be needed for fire protection?
The Private Water Systems Handbook, developed by Midwest Plan Services, lists flow rate requirements for typical devices. They report that typical lawn sprinkler irrigation systems may require 12-gallons per minute (gpm) to operate properly. They indicate 10 gpm is the minimum for fire protection, with 20 gpm being preferred.
See the complete table below:
Device | Typical Flow Rate Required for Operation |
---|---|
Automatic washer | 5 gpm |
Dishwasher | 2 gpm |
Garbage disposal | 3 gpm |
Kitchen sink | 3 gpm |
Shower or tub | 5 gpm |
Toilet flush | 3 gpm |
Bathroom sink | 2 gpm |
Water softener regeneration | 5 gpm |
Backwash filters | 10 gpm |
Outside hose faucet | 5 gpm |
Outdoor lawn sprinkler system | 12 gpm |
Fire protection | 10 gpm -- preferred 20 gpm |