Hey Danny,
Are you using a Ram Pump or the stream flow to power a hydraulic pump to get your water uphill? Or wind maybe?
Something to consider. Depending on the headflow at the top of the hill and what you used the water for you might build a penstock back down the hill to the stream capped by a high pressure nozzle blasting onto a micro hydro generator. Then you just build a return and spill the water back in the stream.
Check out Home Power magazine on the internet. Get info on Solar, Wind, Hydro and even geo-thermal from time to time. Can get very technical at times but they also provide resources for help when it does.
http://www.homepower.com/
Tie,
On the one hand I know the idea of water and electricity don't mix and your point is well taken. It would seem to create a "SHOCKING" experience!
However these systems aren't always designed like you might think. Have your PE guy take you to the roof of your building and look at the motors that drive the roof HVAC systems. They get wet but don't short out from mositure. Sealed motor (or generator in this case) technology if very perfected and the risk of shock or electrocution is almost non-exist if you follow manufacturer guidelines for installation and maintenance.
In speaking of Global Warming new info has come out that suggests plants play a more significant role than first thought.
Do I believe we have global warming? Yes but I also don't believe in a single exact cause either. Many factors such as NASA has shown the sun has gotten hotter, development with impervious surfaces that act as huge thermal masses and other factors beyond human generated greenhouse gases are also factors. Sure, we humans need to do all we can to limit our impact and I'm all behind that but don't discount other elements as well as some of these new finding are starting to show us. There are areas we can control and we should but what is sad is the fact IMO these very same enviro groups who trumpet the green cause and demanding more gov't aren't at the same time telling the public about steps they could take on their own outside of gov't that might limit the impact and who knows, it might be enough to make the difference. I believe they don't tell us because they themselves need us to totally rely on all things gov't just as much as those that oppose them. It's nothing more than the Hegelian Dialectic IMO.
Be cool!