Using compressed air to lift water from a well does work as described in the previous article; however, one must insure the compressed air comes from an oil-free compressor. If the air compressor has an oil-filled crankcase, the delivered air will have oil vapor/oil mist in it, which is not something one should have suspended in their drinking water. Do not trust an oil/water separator on the compressed air unit to remove oil vapors; they will eventually saturate and become pretty much useless. To confirm what your compressor is doing, check the condensate drain on the air tank. If it is oily or looks like tan snot, you need to get a different compressor. A diaphram-type compressor, or other oil-free design, should be used. Best wishes to all. – DH somewhere in IA
Letter Re: Air Lift Pumps
