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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: If the water is within 25 feet of the pump, buy the Goulds J10S: 19.5 GPM at 15 feet of lift and 40 psi, and it holds more flow near 50 psi than the others. The Red Lion RJS-100-PREM is the pick sold by Amazon, with a 3-year warranty and the same flow at 30 psi. Deeper than 25 feet, a shallow well pump will not work; see our submersible well pump picks instead.
Our pick for most shallow wells: the Goulds J10S 1 HP jet pump. Not linked: on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. The Red Lion RJS-100-PREM below is the one Amazon sells: Check the Red Lion RJS-100-PREM on Amazon
A shallow well pump sits above ground and pulls water up by suction, which only works when the water is within about 25 feet of the pump. Inside that limit, the right pump is the one that still moves enough water at your lift and your pressure setting, and the makers’ flow tables show that the box numbers are best-case. These are the two we would buy on Amazon, with the flow each one actually delivers.
Shallow Well Pumps Compared
| Pump | HP | GPM at 15 ft lift, 40 psi | GPM at 15 ft lift, 50 psi | GPM at 25 ft lift, 40 psi |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Goulds J10S | 1 | 19.5 | 13.8 | 12.4 |
| Red Lion RJS-100-PREM | 1 | 14.1 | 7.7 | 11.5 |
| Red Lion RJS-75-PREM | 3/4 | 10.2 | 4.7 | 7.2 |
| Goulds J5S | 1/2 | 8.0 | 3.6 | 6.2 |
Flow figures come from the Goulds JS+ technical brochure and the Red Lion RJS-PREM performance table. The linked Red Lion pumps were listed in stock and sold by Amazon when we checked on September 28, 2026. The Goulds pumps are not linked: on 10/3/2026 their Amazon listings were sold by third-party sellers, not by Amazon or Goulds.
Goulds J10S 1 HP Shallow Well Jet Pump
1 HP · 115/230 V · 1-1/4-inch NPT suction, 1-inch NPT discharge · built-in shallow well jet · 30/50 psi pressure switch · NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 listed · UL 778 · water up to 140°F · 50 lb
The J10S is Goulds’ 1 HP shallow well jet pump, with the jet built into the casing so there is no separate adapter to plumb. Its strength is holding flow as pressure climbs. Goulds’ table gives 19.5 GPM at 15 feet of lift and 40 psi, 13.8 GPM at 50 psi, and 12.4 GPM at the full 25 feet of lift and 40 psi. That matters because a 30/50 pressure switch spends half its cycle near 50 psi, and at 15 feet of lift the J10S still moves 13.8 GPM there, against 7.7 GPM for the Red Lion below.
Goulds calls the JS+ series the first NSF-listed jet pumps, to NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 for the shallow well parts. The back-pullout design lets you take the pump apart without disturbing the piping, a diaphragm keeps water around the mechanical seal, and the motor has a built-in overload with automatic reset. For a smaller house or a cabin, the half-horsepower J5S is the same design: Goulds lists 8.0 GPM at 15 feet and 40 psi.
- Holds flow at 50 psi better than the other pumps here (Goulds and Red Lion tables)
- NSF/ANSI 61 and 372 listed shallow well components, per Goulds
- Back-pullout design for service without breaking the piping
- Goulds publishes flow up to 60 psi, useful if you run a 40/60 switch
- Not linked: third-party sellers only on Amazon on 10/3/2026
- Limited to 25 feet of lift, like every shallow well pump
- Weighs 50 lb, per Goulds
Verdict: The pump to buy for a whole house on a shallow well, especially if you want steady flow near the top of the pressure range or want the option of a 40/60 switch.
Not linked: Goulds J10S (1 HP) — on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. We re-check listings every week.
Not linked: Goulds J5S (1/2 HP) — on 10/3/2026 the Amazon listing was sold by a third-party seller, not by Amazon or the maker. We re-check listings every week.
Red Lion RJS-100-PREM 1 HP Shallow Well Jet Pump
1 HP · 115/230 V (17.6 A / 8.8 A) · 1-1/4-inch FNPT suction, 1-inch FNPT discharge · 30/50 psi pressure switch · cast iron casing · UL 778 and CSA 108; NSF/ANSI 372 · 3-year limited warranty
The RJS-100-PREM is Red Lion’s premium cast iron shallow well pump, and it is sold by Amazon itself. The 23 GPM on the box is Red Lion’s figure at 5 feet of lift and 30 psi. At 15 feet of lift, Red Lion lists 19.5 GPM at 30 psi, 14.1 at 40 and 7.7 at 50; at 25 feet, 11.5 GPM at 40 psi. So it matches the Goulds at the bottom of a 30/50 cycle and gives up more flow near the top.
Red Lion’s manual is specific about setup: the vertical distance from pump to water, including drawdown, must not exceed 25 feet, and less at high altitude. It says to set a tank’s pre-charge to 28 psi because the pump starts at 30, to install a relief valve that can handle the pump’s flow at 75 psi, never to put a check valve between the pump and the tank, and to connect the pump to a GFCI-protected circuit. The 3/4 HP RJS-75-PREM is the smaller version, at 10.2 GPM at 15 feet and 40 psi.
- Sold and shipped by Amazon
- 3-year limited warranty (Red Lion)
- Matches the Goulds J10S at low pressure: 19.5 GPM at 15 feet and 30 psi
- Clear manual on priming, tank pre-charge and relief valve
- Flow falls faster toward 50 psi: 7.7 GPM at 15 feet of lift
- Red Lion lists no flow at 60 psi beyond 5 feet of lift, so it is a 30/50 pump
- The 23 GPM headline is at only 5 feet of lift
Verdict: The pick if you want the pump sold by Amazon with a 3-year warranty and you will run the standard 30/50 switch.
I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.
Before You Buy
- Measure the lift. Find the distance from where the pump will sit down to the water level while the pump is running, not just at rest. Past 25 feet, a shallow well pump will not work.
- Pick the pressure range. Both ship with a 30/50 switch. If you want 40/60, the Goulds tables show flow at 60 psi; the Red Lion’s do not beyond 5 feet of lift. See well pressure switch 30/50 vs 40/60.
- Size the tank. Match the tank’s drawdown to the pump’s flow and set its pre-charge 2 psi under cut-in. See the well pressure tank size and drawdown chart and pressure tank model numbers by size.
- Plan the suction line. Goulds says the suction pipe should be at least as large as the pump suction, typically 1-1/4 inch, with no high spots or dips that trap air, and sloping up to the pump. Every joint has to be airtight.
- Plan the wiring. Both motors are dual voltage and the voltage setting must match the supply. Red Lion says to have an electrician do the wiring and to use a GFCI-protected circuit.
How the Install Goes
Mount the pump on a solid, level base in a dry spot protected from freezing, as close to the well as you can. Run the suction line from the foot valve or check valve up to the pump, install a relief valve and a pressure gauge on the discharge side, and pipe to the tank with no check valve between pump and tank. Set the tank pre-charge, then prime: fill the pump and suction line with water through the priming port, start it, and repeat until it pumps steadily. If it will not draw water within 8 tries, Red Lion says to shut it off and check the suction line for leaks, and both makers warn that running the pump dry damages it. Once it is running, a gauge like our well pressure gauge picks lets you confirm cut-in and cut-out, and a sediment filter for well water after the tank protects fixtures from sand.
FAQ
How deep can a shallow well pump pull water?
About 25 feet. Red Lion says the vertical distance from the pump to the water level, including drawdown while the pump runs, must not exceed 25 feet, and less at high altitude. If the water sits deeper than that, you need a convertible jet pump with a deep well jet or a submersible pump.
Should I get a 1/2, 3/4 or 1 HP shallow well pump?
Size it from the maker’s flow table at your lift and pressure, not from horsepower alone. At 15 feet of lift and 40 psi, Goulds lists 8.0 GPM for the 1/2 HP J5S and 19.5 GPM for the 1 HP J10S; Red Lion lists 10.2 GPM for the 3/4 HP RJS-75-PREM and 14.1 GPM for the 1 HP RJS-100-PREM.
Why does my pump deliver less than the GPM on the box?
Headline numbers are measured at low lift and low pressure. Red Lion’s 23 GPM is at 5 feet of lift and 30 psi; at 25 feet and 40 psi its table drops to 11.5 GPM. Flow also falls with undersized or leaky suction pipe.
Do I need a foot valve or a check valve?
One or the other on the suction side. Goulds says to put a foot valve on the end of the drop pipe in a well 2 inches or larger, or use an in-line check valve near the well head on a driven well or sand point. Red Lion says a check valve should never go between the pump and the tank.
What should the pressure tank pre-charge be?
Two psi below the pump’s cut-in pressure. On the standard 30/50 switch that is 28 psi, which is what both Goulds and Red Lion say. Check it with the tank empty and the pump off.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every size, rating, dimension and spec on this page comes from the manufacturer pages and documents listed below, which we opened and read, or from the Amazon listing we link; nothing here comes from hands-on testing. Each linked product was shipped or sold by Amazon, new and in stock, when we checked on September 28, 2026. Where a link goes to Amazon we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- Goulds Water Technology: JS+ shallow well jet pumps technical brochure (BJS+ R4)
- Goulds Water Technology: jet pumps installation, operation and troubleshooting manual (IM102)
- Red Lion: RJS-PREM series shallow well jet pump owner’s manual
- Red Lion: Premium cast iron shallow well jet pump RJS-PREM series (performance table)
- Amazon listings for the Red Lion RJS-100-PREM and RJS-75-PREM (linked above) and the Goulds J10S and J5S (not linked: third-party sellers only on 10/3/2026)
Bottom Line
Measure the lift first; a shallow well pump stops at about 25 feet. Within that, the Goulds J10S is the pump to buy for a whole house, and the Red Lion RJS-100-PREM is the one sold by Amazon with a 3-year warranty. Size by the flow tables at your lift and pressure, set the tank 2 psi below cut-in, and keep the suction line airtight.