What is the best backup power option for well water during NB outages?

Backup Power for Well Pumps During New Brunswick Power Outages

If your New Brunswick home is on a well — as thousands of rural and suburban properties are across the province — a power outage means no water. No flushing, no washing, no drinking water from the tap. Having a backup power plan for your well pump is essential.

Understanding Your Well Pump

First, know what you're working with:

Submersible well pump (most common in NB):

• Located at the bottom of the well, 30–200+ feet deep


• Runs on 240V, draws 5–15 amps (1,000–3,000 watts running, 3x surge on startup)


• Pushes water up to the pressure tank in your basement


• Cannot be easily accessed or bypassed

Jet pump (surface-mounted):

• Located in the basement or pump house


• Shallow well jet: 120V, 5–10 amps


• Deep well jet: 240V, 7–12 amps


• Easier to connect to backup power

Pressure tank:
Your pressure tank stores 10–40 gallons of pressurized water. When power goes out, you have whatever's in the tank — typically enough for 1–3 toilet flushes and a few minutes of tap water. After that, nothing.

Backup Power Options

Option 1: Portable generator with transfer switch ($2,000–$5,000 total)

The most common solution for NB well owners:

• Generator: 5,000–7,500 watt minimum (to handle the pump's startup surge)


• Transfer switch or interlock kit: $800–$1,500 installed by a licensed electrician


• The transfer switch lets you safely power the well pump circuit (and other selected circuits) from the generator

Pros: Powers more than just the pump (lights, fridge, furnace fan), moderate cost
Cons: Requires fuel, manual startup, noise, CO risk if improperly placed

Option 2: Standby generator ($6,000–$20,000 installed)

Automatic backup — starts within 10–30 seconds of outage:

• 16–22 kW covers a typical NB home including well pump


• Automatic transfer switch included


• Runs on propane or natural gas


• TSANB electrical permit required

Pros: Fully automatic, powers entire house, runs for days on a full propane tank
Cons: High upfront cost, annual maintenance required

Option 3: Battery backup / inverter system ($500–$3,000)

A battery inverter system specifically for the well pump:

• A 240V inverter connected to a battery bank


• Can run a submersible pump for 30–90 minutes of total pumping time (enough for 1–3 days of careful use)


• Batteries recharged by solar panels, generator, or grid power when restored

Pros: Silent, no fuel, instant switchover
Cons: Limited runtime, expensive for larger pumps, batteries need replacement every 5–10 years

Option 4: Hand pump ($500–$1,500 installed)

A manual hand pump installed alongside your submersible pump:

• Works with shallow to moderate well depths (up to 200 feet with deep-well models like the Simple Pump or Bison)


• No electricity needed — pure mechanical operation


• Produces 2–5 gallons per minute depending on depth


• Installed in a separate casing or alongside the existing pump

Pros: Zero operating cost, works indefinitely, no fuel or batteries
Cons: Physical effort required, slow output, not practical for household use beyond drinking/cooking water

Option 5: Water storage ($100–$500)

The simplest and cheapest backup:

• Store 40–80 litres of water per person for a 3-day outage (drinking + cooking + basic hygiene)


• Fill bathtubs before a forecasted storm for flushing water


• Keep several 20L water containers filled and rotated every 6 months


• A 250-gallon intermediate bulk container (IBC tote, $100–$200 used) in the basement provides substantial reserve

Pros: Cheapest option, zero electrical requirements
Cons: Limited supply, no running water pressure, requires advance planning

Generator Sizing for Well Pumps

Well pumps have high startup (surge) current — typically 3x their running current. Your generator must handle the surge:

| Pump Type | Running Watts | Surge Watts | Minimum Generator |
|-----------|--------------|-------------|-------------------|
| 1/2 HP submersible | 1,000W | 2,500–3,000W | 3,500W |
| 3/4 HP submersible | 1,500W | 3,500–4,500W | 5,000W |
| 1 HP submersible | 2,000W | 4,000–6,000W | 6,500W |
| 1.5 HP submersible | 2,500W | 5,000–7,500W | 7,500W |

If you also want to run lights, fridge, and furnace fan alongside the pump, add those loads to the running watts and ensure the generator handles the pump surge on top of everything else.

Transfer Switch: Non-Negotiable

Connecting a generator to your well pump circuit requires a transfer switch or interlock kit installed by a TSANB-licensed electrician. You CANNOT safely plug a well pump into a generator with an extension cord — submersible pumps are hardwired to their circuit.

The transfer switch:

• Isolates your home from the grid (prevents backfeed that endangers NB Power workers)


• Lets you select which circuits receive generator power


• Handles the 240V requirement for submersible pumps


• Cost: $800–$1,500 installed

Recommended Approach for NB Well Owners

Minimum: Store 80+ litres of water and fill bathtubs before storms

Good: 5,000–7,500W portable generator + transfer switch ($2,500–$4,500 total)

Best: 16–22 kW standby generator with automatic transfer ($8,000–$20,000)

Supplement with: A hand pump for extended outages where fuel runs out

Given NB's history of multi-day outages from ice storms and post-tropical storms, rural well owners should seriously consider at least option 2. The cost of a generator and transfer switch is modest compared to the disruption of being without water for 3–7 days.

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