Our high head water pumps are designed to lift water over significant vertical distances or push it across long horizontal runs, generating the high pressure needed for shafts, wells, boreholes, irrigation systems and pressure boosting.
The range covers submersible borehole pumps with head heights from 20m up to 90m, plus surface mounted centrifugal and multi-stage pumps for above-ground installations.
The deeper read: what's in this range, how to pick, and when to talk to us before you buy.
Head is the maximum height of a vertical column of water that a pump can support if there were no other losses in the system, measured in metres. It is the technical term for the vertical lift a pump can achieve, and it is directly related to pressure. The greater the head, the higher the pressure the pump can generate, which is why high head pumps are sometimes called high pressure pumps.
The head you need depends on the vertical lift, the horizontal pipe run, and the bends, valves and fittings in the system. To take the guesswork out of this calculation, use our Water Pump Performance Calculator. Enter your distances and pipe details and it will tell you the minimum head required for your application, so you can choose the right pump with confidence.
The right type depends on where the water source is and how the system is configured. Our submersible borehole range covers wells, boreholes and shafts, while our selection of Speroni surface pumps covers above-ground pressure boosting, irrigation and water transfer applications.
| Pump Type | Best For | Typical Head Range |
|---|---|---|
| Submersible borehole | Deep wells, boreholes, shafts, drawing water from depth | 20m to 90m |
| Surface centrifugal | Pressure boosting, irrigation, water transfer above ground | Up to 60m |
| Surface multi-stage | High pressure for clean water boosting and small flows | Up to 80m |
High head pumps achieve their lift by stacking multiple impellers in series inside the pump body, with each impeller adding to the overall pressure. This is why high head submersible pumps are noticeably longer and narrower than standard submersibles, and why surface multi-stage pumps have a distinct elongated housing. Flow rate and head behave inversely on the same pump (higher head means lower flow at that point on the curve), so always check the pump curve at your required duty point rather than relying on headline figures alone.
Head is the height a pump can lift water. A high head pump is built to push water to a greater height or over a longer distance than a standard drainage pump, usually at a lower flow.
Use one when water has to go up a long way or travel a long distance through hose or pipe, for example from a borehole, up a steep garden or across a large site. Friction in long hose adds to the head the pump has to overcome.
Add the vertical lift from the water level to the outlet to the friction loss in the hose or pipe, then add any pressure needed at the outlet. Our pump performance calculator estimates this for you.
Every pump trades flow for height. The higher it lifts, the less water it moves, until flow stops at the pump's maximum head, so choose a pump that meets your flow at your actual head.
Yes. Surface booster and multistage pumps, such as the Speroni range, are designed to raise pressure for homes, irrigation and washdown.
