Pumping water from a river or stream may be possible, but you should not assume that you are entitled to take the water simply because the watercourse crosses or borders your land. Before choosing a pump, establish that you have the necessary permission from the landowner or relevant rights holder and check whether an abstraction licence or any other consent is required. Once those points are resolved, the practical question is which pump is suitable for the location and intended use. The most popular method is to use a submersible pump, however this article also considers surface mounted pumps and engine driven pumps where power is not available.
The right choice will depend on the height of the bank, the power available, the cleanliness of the water and what you need the water for, whether that is irrigation, filling a storage tank, watering livestock or another purpose. This guide focuses mainly on choosing the pump. The legal and licensing considerations are summarised below and covered in more detail in our separate guide.
Quick answer: To pump water from a river or stream, you will usually need either a surface pump positioned on the bank or a submersible pump placed directly in the water. A surface pump may be suitable where the vertical lift from the water level is no more than about 6 metres. For greater lifts, a submersible pump is generally the better option. The intake should be protected with a suitable strainer, and the pump must be capable of handling the level of sediment or debris in the water. You will also need to choose a power source, such as mains electricity, petrol or battery power, that is practical for the location.
Do I need an abstraction licence?
Taking water from a river, stream or other watercourse can require an abstraction licence, depending on how much you take and where. This is a legal question separate from the pump, and we have written a dedicated guide to it, so rather than repeat it here, please read our guide to water abstraction licences explained. Sort the permissions first, then come back to choosing the pump.
Surface pump or submersible?
The first practical decision is set by the geometry of the bank: how far below your pump the water sits. A surface pump stands on the bank and draws water up to itself, which works well when the water is close to the pump. But a surface pump can only lift water up from a limited depth, because it relies on atmospheric pressure to draw the water up the suction pipe. An engine driven pump would also be classed here as a "surface mounted" pump, as it would be placed on the side of the stream bank (the surface) in the dry, and not submersed.
A submersible pump goes into the water and pushes from below, which suits a deep or awkward bank where a surface pump could not draw the water up. Our guide to surface pump vs submersible pump covers the trade-off in full, and the suction limit is explained in our note on how far a surface pump can draw.
Suction lift limits on surface mounted pumps
Measure the vertical distance from the water surface up to where the pump will stand. If it is more than the rated suction lift, a surface pump will not draw the water up, and you'd need a submersible pump in the water instead. Keep the suction hose short, wide and airtight to get the best from a surface pump, because a long or leaky suction line reduces the lift further.
It is not advisable to operate a surface pump at its maximum stated suction lift.
The pump should be placed as close to the water as reasonably possible. the practical lift should ideally be kept much lower because suction hose length, bends, air leaks and water temperature all reduce performance. As a practical rule, allow a margin of around 2 metres. For example, where a pump has a maximum suction lift of 8 metres, we would recommend using it at no more than approximately 6 metres. Similarly, a Honda engine-driven pump with a stated maximum suction lift of 6 metres would generally be better limited to around 4 metres to help maintain reliable priming and good performance. This follows the same principle as selecting a submersible pump: it should not be expected to operate at its maximum head, where the available flow will be greatly reduced.
You should also consider how the surface pump is primed, including whether it is self-priming or must be filled manually before use. Fitting a suitable foot valve and strainer at the end of the suction hose helps retain water in the suction line, maintain the prime between uses and make restarting the pump more reliable.
Protect the intake with a strainer
River and stream water can carry leaves, weed, grit and small stones, and the fastest way to ruin a day, or a pump, is to let that debris into the intake. Always fit a strainer or foot valve on the suction end. A strainer keeps debris out of the pump, and a foot valve also holds the prime so a surface pump does not lose its water every time it stops. Keep the intake off the bottom so it does not draw silt, and off the surface so it does not draw air.
You will find these in our strainers and intake protection range.
How clean is the water?
Match the pump to what the water carries. Reasonably clean flowing water suits a standard clean-water or surface pump. Water carrying silt, grit or sediment, common near the bank or after rain, needs a pump that can handle solids without wearing out or blocking, and our guide to pump solids handling explained shows how to read the figures. Putting a clean-water pump into gritty water is a common and expensive mistake, because the grit wears the impeller away.
The Honda WB20 petrol pump would be a robust choice for untreated river water. It is self-priming, can handle particles up to approximately 6mm and delivers up to 620 litres per minute, although it is more of a high-flow transfer pump than a precision pressure pump. It is particularly suitable where mains electricity is unavailable.
What power do you have?
The location usually decides the power source, and it is a genuine constraint at a riverbank far from a building.
We compare the practical options by scenario in our guide to which water pump you can use without mains electricity, and cover site supply in 110V vs 230V pumps on site.
What are you using the water for?
The end use sets the flow and pressure you need.
Irrigation and sprinklers need pressure to drive the system, so lean toward a pump that holds head, and see our guide to choosing a pump for irrigation.
Filling a tank or bowser is about volume, so a higher flow gets the job done faster. Watering livestock or topping a trough is a modest, steady demand.
Pumping a long way from the bank to where the water is used adds friction, so size up the pipe and read our guide to how far a pump can move water.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need permission to pump water from a stream?
Possibly. Abstraction from a watercourse can require a licence depending on how much you take and where, which is a separate legal question from the pump. We cover it in our dedicated guide to water abstraction licences, so check the permissions there before you start.
Why won't my surface pump draw water up from the river?
Most likely the water is more than about 7 to 8 metres below the pump, which is beyond the suction lift any surface pump can manage, or there is an air leak on the suction side. If the bank is high, use a submersible pump placed in the water instead. Keep the suction hose short, wide and airtight for the best lift.
Can I use river water for irrigation?
Yes, subject to any abstraction licence, and it is a very common use. Choose a pump that provides the pressure your sprinklers or system need, protect the intake with a strainer, and match the pump to how much sediment the water carries. Our guide to choosing a pump for irrigation covers sizing for garden and agricultural watering.
