Now that we are starting to wrap up our house build its getting time to decide on our well. Should we just go with whatever the driller uses regularly or are there any easy /inexpensive upgrades we could make that would improve the function and efficientcy in the long rum? I expect to lose power regularly so i am considering a larger pressure tank to refill toilets and such during outages. We are on a sewer pump so we will lose that when electric goes out. Thanks for any ideas or advice. Thanks michael

If you intend to run a generator, you may want to look at pumps with low starting current. A larger pressure tank is always good (I can take a full shower on mine).

Jon, i have a generator but i dont think i can power my grinder pump with a regular genset since its 240. I have heard its bad for wells to run on generators but that would solve the problem. If i cant run the grinder theres really no need for more h2o than a big tank will hold. Wonder how big a generator i would need for my grinder pump?

A rough guess - 4000 watts per HP. I'm not aware of any problem with running pumps from a generator.

Gillette Generators has a sizing calculator for generators.  You can find it here.

http://www.gillettegenerators.com/sizing/sizing02.html

You can use their numbers for pretty much anyone's generator.  Use the starting watts for your biggest motor then use the running watts for everything else you want to run, so if your well pump is 1.5 HP and your sewer pump is 1 HP, use the starting watts of your well pump but the running watts of your sewer pump and everything else you want to run, then hit the calculate button.  If you don't see a sewer pump listed, just use the running watts of a motor that comes close.  You could probably email any generator company with your pump data and they would size it for you.
 
I do not sell or own a Gillette generator.

Thanks for the Info guys, i appreciate your help. My generator is not gonna cut it. Has anyone used a variable speed wellpump? Seems they dont use presure tanks. Thanks michael

Wouldn't a VFD (variable frequency drive) for a high efficiency well pump significantly reduce the start up power needed?

I think a typical variable speed pump will cost more than a new generator. Using a 3 phase pump and your own VFD might be economical.

Do you really want to have this conversation again?  Where's the guy with the magic valve?

Yes, a VFD will reduce inrush to the point where a generator of the same wattage as your pump motor will start your well pump.  Actually, a generator of somewhat lower wattage will start your pump and run it a reduced speed.  Municipalities put VFD's on portable generator skids and use them to run lift stations at reduced capacity after hurricanes down here when the power is out.

You would, however, have to remove your existing well pump and replace it with a three phase pump to use a VFD.  Then, you'd have to double the size of the VFD, power wise, so that its internal capacitors could store enough power to convert the single phase input into three phase output.

There are a few companies that make a single phase soft start.  This brings the pump up to full voltage gradually, like say 10 seconds, and reduces inrush.  Using a soft start would allow you to start your well pump with a generator sized at about two times the wattage of the pump motor.  However,  since you are extending the ramp up time, you have to make sure you limit restarts to prevent motor damage, in other words, you might need a timer to prevent a restart until the motor has had time enough to cool down.  A good softstart has that capability built in, a cheap one probably doesn't.

There is also a device for an air conditioner called a hard start capacitor.  It amounts to extra stored electrical capacity for motor starting.  Sometimes, it will reduce inrush current sufficiently to allow a motor to start on a marginal generator.  Well pump guys may have somehting similar.

PS:  I just reread your original post.  If I were putting in a new well, I would use a VFD with a three phase pump even if it was more money, but I know how to make VFD's work and keep them running, plus I have access to VFD's at a lower cost ( I could probably just ask one of the manufacturers I deal with for a demo and I could get one free).  The packaged Variable Speed solutions from most residential well pump manufacturers fall in to the Mickey Mouse category.  That doesn't mean that you should go VFD, just that I would if I were in your shoes knowing what I know.  If you don't like to tweak and adjust things, stick with what your well guy says to use.