Water pump pressure - need own pump in Bangkok?

[heiri007]

Good day - we built our house a few years ago in central Bangkok. Installed a Mitsubishi water pump for the two-storey house. But seems that the water pressure from the public pipe has become stronger over the years.

 

Question: Can I connect the public feeder pipe directly to the house's pipe system, no longer needing an own pump? Or is the «outside» pressure still too weak?

 

Advantage of no own pump would also be to have water when power fails.

[2long]

It's technically illegal to pump from the mains, although many people do it.

The most-common method is normal pressure from the mains to a tank, then pump from the tank to your taps. That's what we and most others have. When the power fails (not often or for long, if in central BKK) you still have water. We do.

[heiri007]

2 minutes ago, 2long said:

It's technically illegal to pump from the mains, although many people do it.

The most-common method is normal pressure from the mains to a tank, then pump from the tank to your taps. That's what we and most others have. When the power fails (not often or for long, if in central BKK) you still have water. We do.

Yeah we got the tank, but below ground, so without power there's no water. 

 

Would you know how the water pressure from the mains compares to an average houshold water pump?

[sometimewoodworker]

2 hours ago, heiri007 said:

Would you know how the water pressure from the mains compares to an average houshold water pump?

That is a “how long is a piece of string” question. Nobody can answer it apart from saying that if you have highish constant water pressure you don’t need a pump, but few people have that. 

[bankruatsteve]

Most tank/pump systems will have a "bypass" allowing the city mains to deliver the water instead of the tank/pump.  This will use a check valve (NRV) or a matter of flipping a couple of valves.  Should be easy enough to see if you have that.  If not, it's not a big project to install.

 

Edit: The correct water pressure is what ever makes you happy (to a point).  Our mains pressure is almost never the same as our pump but it's usually good enough.

Edited July 15, 2020 by bankruatsteve

[heiri007]

4 hours ago, bankruatsteve said:

Edit: The correct water pressure is what ever makes you happy (to a point).  Our mains pressure is almost never the same as our pump but it's usually good enough.

Good point to consider, thanks much!

[ravip]

Sometimes, the mains water pressure can vary at different times of the day, too.

[VocalNeal]

Mains pressure will give you water on the ground floor but not upstairs and definitely not on a 2nd floor. 

New houses invariably have a water pump.  Yes no power no water on the upper floors. 

 

But yes you can pipe in a bypass so at least with no power you will have water on the ground floor.

[bankruatsteve]

2 minutes ago, VocalNeal said:

Mains pressure will give you water on the ground floor but not upstairs

Depends on mains pressure.  Our village pressure will usually carry to "upstairs".