Nice idea. The man makes a couple of good points.

http://scienceblogs.com/casaubonsbook/2009/12/the_anti-consumerist_gift_file_2.php

Broadly, if you can match your "preparedness" gift to the person, it can be a hit. Something that gives a person under stress a bit of control over one aspect of life's necessities can be a generous gift indeed.

Not everyone might appreciate it, though. People can take the wrong message depending on their point of view. Then again, an axe (for example) that was received like a dead fish and all-but-forgotten in the rafters might just bring a lot of comfort and joy years after.

Specifically regarding wells: The idea of a pump is a good one, though not many people have wells any more. I suppose a number of disaster situations could leave area wells contaminated. Worth considering.

I have a good hand pump in reserve, with fixtures, and a couple of cheap ones that were bought as ornaments but are said to work (worth a try at a friend's house if needed).

With a shallow well that has a foot valve, you can actually work the line up and down (very fast on the "down" stroke) and pump small amounts of water that way. It's how I prime my impeller pump after maintenance. Not a solution, but worth knowing.

I couldn't find any drawing or indication on how it works. I was hoping that it is a version of the Gaviota-designed (Columbia) pump that pumps water on both the upward and downward strokes. I would really like to find the plans for that one, but haven't been able to, so far.

Sue