Pump selection is one of the most important decisions in any borehole installation. The wrong pump causes premature failure, poor pressure, and wasted energy. Here is how to match the pump to your borehole and your water demand.
Every pump selection starts with two numbers: the borehole yield (how much water the aquifer can produce per hour) and your daily water demand. The pump must never be rated to draw more water than the aquifer can supply — if it does, the pump will run dry and burn out. We always size pumps conservatively below the measured yield.
The second factor is total dynamic head — the vertical distance from the pump to the delivery point plus friction losses in the pipe. A pump rated for 30 metres head will not perform well if the water needs to be pushed 60 metres up to a tank. We calculate this carefully for every installation. For most residential boreholes a Grundfos, Wilo, or DAB submersible in the 0.37 to 1.1 kW range is appropriate. Agricultural and commercial applications require larger units.
