.flow-calc-container {
background-color: #f8fbff;
border: 1px solid #d1e3f8;
border-radius: 8px;
padding: 30px;
box-shadow: 0 4px 6px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
margin-bottom: 40px;
}
.flow-calc-title {
text-align: center;
color: #005a9c;
margin-bottom: 25px;
font-size: 24px;
font-weight: 700;
}
.flow-input-group {
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.flow-input-label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #333;
}
.flow-input-row {
display: flex;
gap: 15px;
}
.flow-input-wrapper {
flex: 1;
}
.flow-input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
box-sizing: border-box;
transition: border-color 0.3s;
}
.flow-input:focus {
border-color: #0077cc;
outline: none;
}
.flow-btn {
width: 100%;
background-color: #0077cc;
color: white;
padding: 15px;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 18px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background-color 0.3s;
margin-top: 10px;
}
.flow-btn:hover {
background-color: #005fa3;
}
.flow-results {
margin-top: 25px;
padding-top: 20px;
border-top: 2px solid #e1e1e1;
display: none;
}
.flow-result-item {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
align-items: center;
margin-bottom: 12px;
padding: 10px;
background-color: #fff;
border-radius: 4px;
border: 1px solid #eee;
}
.flow-result-label {
color: #555;
font-weight: 600;
}
.flow-result-value {
color: #0077cc;
font-weight: 800;
font-size: 18px;
}
.flow-main-result {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 20px;
padding: 15px;
background-color: #e6f3ff;
border-radius: 6px;
border: 1px solid #b3d7ff;
}
.flow-main-result h3 {
margin: 0;
color: #004080;
font-size: 16px;
text-transform: uppercase;
letter-spacing: 1px;
}
.flow-main-result .value {
font-size: 36px;
color: #005a9c;
font-weight: 800;
margin-top: 5px;
}
.article-content {
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.article-content h2 {
color: #005a9c;
margin-top: 30px;
}
.article-content ul {
background: #f9f9f9;
padding: 20px 40px;
border-radius: 6px;
}
.article-content li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
@media (max-width: 600px) {
.flow-input-row {
flex-direction: column;
gap: 15px;
}
}
function calculateWellFlow() {
// Get input elements
var containerInput = document.getElementById('containerVolume');
var minInput = document.getElementById('fillMinutes');
var secInput = document.getElementById('fillSeconds');
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('flowResults');
// Get values
var gallons = parseFloat(containerInput.value);
var minutes = parseFloat(minInput.value);
var seconds = parseFloat(secInput.value);
// Validation logic
if (isNaN(gallons) || gallons <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid container volume greater than 0.");
return;
}
// Handle empty time inputs as 0
if (isNaN(minutes)) minutes = 0;
if (isNaN(seconds)) seconds = 0;
// Calculate total time in minutes
var totalTimeMinutes = minutes + (seconds / 60);
// Check for zero time (division by zero protection)
if (totalTimeMinutes <= 0) {
alert("Please enter a valid time duration.");
return;
}
// Calculations
// Formula: Flow Rate (GPM) = Volume (Gallons) / Time (Minutes)
var gpm = gallons / totalTimeMinutes;
var gph = gpm * 60;
var gpd = gph * 24;
// Liters conversion (1 US Gallon = 3.78541 Liters)
var lpm = gpm * 3.78541;
// Update UI with results
document.getElementById('resultGPM').innerText = gpm.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('resultGPH').innerText = gph.toFixed(0);
document.getElementById('resultGPD').innerText = gpd.toFixed(0).replace(/\B(?=(\d{3})+(?!\d))/g, ","); // Add commas
document.getElementById('resultLPM').innerText = lpm.toFixed(2);
// Show results section
resultDiv.style.display = "block";
// Scroll to results for better UX on mobile
resultDiv.scrollIntoView({ behavior: 'smooth', block: 'nearest' });
}
Well Flow Rate Calculator
Enter the size of the bucket or container used.
Estimated Flow Rate
0.00 GPM
(Gallons Per Minute)
Hourly Production:
0 GPH
Daily Potential (24h):
0 GPD
Metric Equivalent:
0 LPM
Understanding Well Flow Rate
A well flow rate calculator is an essential tool for homeowners, real estate agents, and home inspectors to determine the water yield capacity of a private well system. The flow rate, typically measured in Gallons Per Minute (GPM), indicates how much water the well can deliver continuously over a specific period.
Why Is Flow Rate Important?
Knowing your well's flow rate is critical for several reasons:
- Household Demand: Ensures the well can support daily activities like showering, laundry, and dishwashing simultaneously.
- Irrigation Systems: Determines if there is enough capacity to run sprinklers without draining the well.
- Real Estate Transactions: Often required during home inspections to verify the water supply is adequate for financing (e.g., FHA or VA loans usually require a minimum of 3-5 GPM).
- Pump Health: Helps in sizing the correct pump. A pump that is too powerful for a low-yield well can run dry and burn out.
How to Measure Flow Rate (The Bucket Test)
The calculation above is based on the standard "Bucket Test" method. To perform this test safely:
- Find an outlet: Locate a faucet close to the pressure tank, such as an outdoor spigot or a laundry tub faucet.
- Empty the tank: Run the water until the well pump turns on. This ensures you are measuring water from the well, not stored water in the pressure tank.
- Prepare a container: Use a container of known volume (typically a 5-gallon bucket).
- Time the fill: Place the bucket under the full flow of water and use a stopwatch to measure exactly how long it takes to fill to the brim. Note the minutes and seconds.
- Calculate: Input the container size and the time elapsed into the calculator above.
What is a "Good" Flow Rate?
While needs vary based on household size, here are general benchmarks:
- Less than 3 GPM: Considered low yield. You may need a storage tank or cistern to buffer peak usage times.
- 3 to 5 GPM: Average minimum for older homes or small households. This is often the threshold for mortgage approvals.
- 6 to 12 GPM: Ideal for the average modern family home (4 people, 2 bathrooms).
- 12+ GPM: High yield. Suitable for large families, extensive irrigation, or geothermal heat pump systems.
Interpreting the Results
Gallons Per Hour (GPH): This metric helps in understanding long-term sustainability, useful for filling pools or watering large gardens.
Gallons Per Day (GPD): While few wells run 24 hours straight, this theoretical maximum helps compare against average daily household consumption (typically 300-400 gallons per day for a family of four).