As soon as the weather turns dry, the questions start. Running a sprinkler system from a rainwater tank, watering polytunnels from a stream, moving water across a field. They are all irrigation problems, and they are solved by getting three things right: your water source, the pressure and flow you need, and the rules on taking water.
Here is how to choose, with the full range on our irrigation pumps page.
Start with your water source
The water source decides the type of pump before anything else.
- From a tank or water butt at or above pump level: a surface pump works well. If the tank sits below the pump, you need one that can draw water up to itself (a self-priming pump), and the water must be within about 7 to 8 metres below it.
- From a stream or pond: a self-priming surface pump on the bank is the usual answer, again within that 7 to 8 metre reach. For larger volumes, or anywhere without mains power, an engine-driven pump offers portability and high flow.
- From a borehole or well: use a borehole or well pump that sits down in the water.
Work out pressure and flow
Irrigation is rarely about moving large volumes gently. Sprinklers and drip systems need pressure to work properly, and that is where many setups fall short. Two figures matter:
- Flow, in litres per minute, is how much water you need at once. Add up every sprinkler or outlet running at the same time.
- Pressure is what makes the sprinklers throw a proper spray, and you must allow for the pressure lost to friction along long or narrow pipe runs, which adds up over distance.
This is why multistage booster pumps are often used for irrigation.
They use stacked impellers (the spinning parts that move the water, arranged in series so each adds pressure) to build the pressure a sprinkler system needs without a large motor.
For a small garden a single self-priming pump may suffice; for sprinkler systems and field watering, a booster earns its place. Our Water Pump Performance Calculator shows how pipe length and bore affect what reaches the nozzle.
Match the pump to the scale
| What you are watering | A good starting point |
|---|---|
| Garden, allotment, single hose or small sprinkler | Self-priming surface pump or automatic demand pump, such as the FL Demand Pump |
| Sprinkler system with several outlets | Booster pump such as the Speroni RA(M) or RSX range |
| Borehole or well-fed irrigation | Borehole or well pump, or the Divertron for automatic running |
| Fields, no mains power, high volume | Engine-driven pump |
| Slightly dirty water from a pond or ditch | Speroni GA(M)100 open-impeller pump or a submersible pump, e.g APP KHL |
Know the rules before you take water
This part is easy to overlook. In England, if you take water from a river, stream, canal, pond or from underground and use more than 20,000 litres (20 cubic metres) a day, you generally need an abstraction licence from the Environment Agency. Abstraction simply means taking water from the natural environment. Smaller amounts are usually exempt, but lower limits apply in some protected areas, and Scotland and Wales operate their own systems through SEPA and Natural Resources Wales.
During a hosepipe ban, restrictions can also apply to how you water, so check your water company's current position in a dry summer. A quick check with the relevant authority before drawing from a watercourse can save a lot of trouble, and we are happy to point you in the right direction.
A note on drinking water
If irrigation water could connect back to a mains drinking supply, that connection must be protected, and any pump in contact with mains water must be WRAS approved (the UK certification for fittings used on drinking water). Many general irrigation pumps are not WRAS approved and are for non-potable use only, which is fine for irrigation but worth knowing.
Frequently asked questions
What pump do I need to run garden sprinklers?
You need enough pressure to drive the sprinklers and enough flow for all the outlets running at once. Add up the flow of every sprinkler running together, then allow extra for the pressure lost along the pipe run.
Can I pump irrigation water from a stream or pond?
Yes, usually with a self-priming surface pump on the bank, as long as the water is within about 7 to 8 metres below the pump, or a submersible pump. For high volume or off-grid sites, an engine-driven pump is a strong option. Check the rules on taking water first.
Do I need a licence to take water from a river or borehole?
In England, taking more than 20,000 litres (20 cubic metres) a day generally needs an abstraction licence from the Environment Agency, with lower limits in some protected areas. Scotland and Wales have their own systems. Always check before you start.
Are irrigation pumps suitable for drinking water?
Many are not WRAS approved and are for non-potable use only. That is fine for irrigation, but if there is any connection to a mains drinking supply, the connection must be protected and a WRAS-approved pump used.
