Submersible Water Pumps for Residential & Commercial Use

Submersible pumps are our most popular range of water pumps. They are widely used in both residential and commercial settings for a variety of applications, including flood control, water features, and irrigation. They can be effectively used in construction or site drainage, enabling contractors to continue working in wet weather. 

At floodandwaterpumps.co.uk we’re known for supplying the best submersible water pumps available, from leading brands such as: Stream Pumps, Tsurumi Pumps, APP, and EVAK Pumps. We hold significant stocks in our Nottingham warehouse, available with next-day delivery to most areas. 

Submersible pumps each have different specialised uses, and applications include:

• Well or borehole pumping
• Site drainage
• Water transfer
• Flood protection
• Wastewater removal
• Water features for pond
• Sewage 

Pumps come in many different variations for the removal of different liquids, including clean and dirty water, salt water, and chemicals. 

Submersible or sump pumps are often highly recommended for flood defence uses as they are easily stored, quick to use, and extremely effective at pumping water. 

They can be wired in permanently, and if the pump is automatic, it will trigger when necessary, making it ideal for use in a passive flood defense scheme. Unlike engine-driven pumps, they do not have to “suck” water up through a pipe as they are submerged, making them quick and easy to use.

How do Submersible Water Pumps Work:

A submersible water pump consists of 5 main components, including: the inlet, impeller, electric motor, housing and outlet.

The electric motors are sealed against water ingress, and convert electrical energy into kinetic energy, causing an impeller to spin. The rotation of the impeller produces a difference in pressure: less pressure at the inlet pulls water into the pump; more pressure at the outlet pushes the water out so that it can be pumped out.

Pumps used different parts dependent on their intended use. For example:

• High Flow Pumps: Feature larger impellers move more water.
• High Head Pumps: Utilise stacked impellers to produce maximum pressure when you need to pump water long distances.

It’s the size of the impeller that ultimately determines how much pressure (head height) and water (flow rate) the pump can produce. 

The image below compares the impeller size of an APP HD-15 Submersible Pump with a Tsurumi LB480 Submersible pump, to provide a visual illustration of the differences in submersible pumps.

Understanding the Power of a Submersible Pump:

Submersible pumps are all electric, and therefore ultimately the power is given in Watts or Kilowatts, however when determining the pump’s performance, it is generally the flow rate and head height (pressure) which are of interest. The flow rate is in litres per minute, and will depend on the distance and height of the water being pumped. You can determine the expected flow rate from the pump performance graph. 

"Head" indicates the highest elevation that a column of water can be pushed if no other losses in the system exist.

If you want a simple explanation of flow rate vs head height – and how to read pump performance graphs – read: Pump Curves Explained: How to Understand Flow Rate and Head.

To learn more about flow rates and how to read a pump graph, check out our video tutorial: How to Read a Pump Curve in Minutes | Best Simple Explanation.

What Should You Consider When Buying a Submersible Pump?

1. What do you need the Water Pump for? Determine whether you need the pump for flood control, site drainage, irrigation, or even a water feature as this will determine the style of pump you need. For drainage purposes, consider how low the pump needs to clear water. Puddle pumps can pump down to 1mm, whist standard submersible pumps may only pump down to around 200mm. 
   Assess the size of the area or volume of water to be pumped. Flow rate is a crucial factor: the Stream SPP-2 Submersible Water Pump, for instance, has a flow rate of 70 litres per minute, while the APP HD-15 Submersible Pump can handle up to 830 litres per minute.
2. Choose your Power Source: Determine whether you need a 110V, 230V or 3-phase power source. Please note that not all pumps are in all voltages. Well and borehole pumps, for instance, require 230V in order for the stacked impellers to work, and are not available in 110V.
3. Choose Between Automatic and Manual Operation: Automatic pumps have built-in float switches that turn on and off when the water rises or falls, whereas manual pumps must be manually switched on and off at the mains.
4. Choose the Right Pump for the type of Water: This may sound simple, but you must determine what liquid you’re going to pump — clean water, sewage water, or salt water — and choose the right pump. An incorrect selection will lead to premature failure.
5. Check the Height and the Distance: Determine how far the water must be pumped and make sure the pump has a sufficient head height (pressure). Distance will affect the height of the head, and you have to factor this in – using the pump graph.
6. Consider Continual Operation: If you will be running the pump constantly, choose a 24-hour pump. Pond pumps, for instance, are designed for this use, but sewage pumps are not. If you’re using the pump continually, you also want it to operate at the midpoint of the pump curve.
7. Choosing Your Water Pump: Considering all these things, you can choose the best pump for your requirements. 

Before choosing a submersible pump, be aware of common pitfalls: Common Water Pumping Mistakes and How to Avoid Them.

What is the Difference Between a Manual and Automatic Water Pump?

Choosing an automatic model? This guide explains the different switches (and how to use them): Automatic Water Pumps and the Different Switches.

Sumps and Pumps are called Packaged Pump Stations

For long-term applications, submersible pumps are typically used in sumps or chambers. Sumps are the chambers that collect water and house the pump. These units are available as Packaged Pump Stations (ready-to-use kits). When a chamber isn’t an option, a Puddle Pump is ideal, since it can push water to a very low level without a sump.

Packaged Pump Stations: Most commonly installed for drainage (surface water or foul) where gravity drainage is not viable, or, for flood control where water can be collected and pumped away from an area.

You can read more in our blog here:  What is a Sump Pump and How Do You Install One?

If you watch the video below, you’ll see a Packaged Pump Station installed in a patio which will activate in a flood scenario.

The small patio area is defended by a low wall, flood barrier and Non Return Valves, but it is accepted some water with pool here... whether out the sky, off the roof, or seepage/groundwater. A puddle pump could be used, but that would require human intervention, and as flooding can be very stressful, its nice to make it as "stress-free" as possible. The sump pump installed will turn off and on as required, not needing any human intervention during a flood. It is effectively passive, helping to keep the property dry.  You'd also never even know it was there! 

Benefits of Submersible Pumps

Submersible pumps are quick and easy to operate and since they do not "suck" water up through a pipe like engine driven pumps, they rarely require priming and are mostly “plug & play”. 

They work effectively, making them the perfect choice for flood situations. They can be wired in permanently, and automatic ones will come on automatically when activated, making them ideal for passive flood protection systems.

Large Stocks of Submersible Pumps

At floodandwaterpumps.co.uk we hold large stocks of water pumps, available with next-day delivery to most areas.