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Well driller lowering a PVC liner with a Fernco debris trap clamped below a coupling into a steel well casing
 
Water wells

Water Well Debris Traps

A flexible cone, also called a shale trap, that clamps onto a well liner and blocks the gap around it, so loose rock and sand can’t fall down to the screen and pump intake.

 
2″ to 6″ casing 5″ to 10″ well Flexible PVC Stainless steel clamp
 
Casing or linerCouplingDebris trapScreen
How it works

Catch it before it reaches the pump

Many wells have a smaller casing or liner set inside a larger drilled hole, which leaves an open gap around the pipe. Loose dirt, rock or shale can fall down that gap and pile up around the screen and pump suction.

  • Slide the trap onto the casing, open end up, just below a coupling
  • Tighten the stainless steel clamp to 60 in-lb
  • Lower the casing into the well. The flexible lip presses against the wall of the hole and conforms to rough, uneven rock
  • Debris that falls down the gap lands in the cone instead of reaching the pump

Sizes

Pick by casing size and well (hole) size. A 4″ x 6″ trap fits a 4″ casing in a 6″ hole.

PartCasingWellDrawing
WC500-2382″5″PDF
WC600-3503″6″PDF
WC600-4504″6″PDF
WC700-4504″7″PDF
WC700-5625″7″Coming soon
WC800-5505″8″PDF
WC900-5505″9″Coming soon
WC800-6626″8″PDF
WC1000-6626″10″PDF
A Fernco water well debris trap: a black flexible cone with a stainless steel clamp at the narrow end

Specifications

UseResidential and farm water wells with a casing or liner set inside a larger hole
MaterialFlexible PVC, 60 durometer (Shore A)
Clamp300 series stainless steel
Clamp torque60 in-lb
Temperature-30°F to 140°F
Casing sizes2″ to 6″
Well sizes5″ to 10″
Box quantity20
Also calledShale trap, formation packer, well packer

Not a sanitary seal. A debris trap doesn’t replace the grout or seal required by your state or local well code. It should be installed by a licensed well contractor.

Common questions

What is a water well debris trap?

It’s a flexible cone, often called a shale trap, that clamps onto a well casing or liner. It blocks the gap between the casing and the wall of the hole so loose rock and sand can’t fall down to the screen and pump.

Where does it go?

On the casing, open end up, just below a coupling and above the screen.

How do I pick a size?

Match both numbers: the casing size and the well (hole) size. For example, use WC600-450 for a 4″ casing in a 6″ hole.

Will it fit a rough or uneven hole?

Yes, within its listed well size. The flexible PVC lip conforms to irregularities in a drilled hole.

Is it a sanitary seal?

No. It keeps debris away from the pump, but it doesn’t replace the grout or seal your well code requires.

Documents and downloads

Dimensional drawings for each size and the catalog page.

Debris Trap WC500-238 DrawingDrawing · PDF, 2″ casing in 5″ wellView drawing Debris Trap WC600-350 DrawingDrawing · PDF, 3″ casing in 6″ wellView drawing Debris Trap WC600-450 DrawingDrawing · PDF, 4″ casing in 6″ wellView drawing Debris Trap WC700-450 DrawingDrawing · PDF, 4″ casing in 7″ wellView drawing Debris Trap WC800-550 DrawingDrawing · PDF, 5″ casing in 8″ wellView drawing Debris Trap WC800-662 DrawingDrawing · PDF, 6″ casing in 8″ wellView drawing Debris Trap WC1000-662 DrawingDrawing · PDF, 6″ casing in 10″ wellView drawing Fernco Plumbing CatalogCatalog · PDF, debris traps on page 29View catalog