Well and Borehole Pumps

Well Pumps and Borehole Pumps Overview

Well Pumps and Borehole Pumps are specially designed high-pressure water pumps with a greater-than-average head (pumping height). These pumps are generally narrower to fit easily into tight spaces like wells and shafts.

The pump’s head height is a measure of pressure: it tells us the greatest distance vertically the pump can move the water from its source to the place where it exits: 10 metres of head of water equals around 0.98 bar.

Interesting Facts

Historical Use: Springs and wells have been sources of water for thousands of years, often influencing the location of towns and villages. Places with names containing "Bourne" are linked to springs, derived from the Old English word burna, meaning spring. Examples include Bourneville, Eastbourne, and Sittingbourne.

Water Supply in England and Wales: Groundwater sources account for 33% of water supplies, with nearly 2.5 billion m³ abstracted annually.

What is a Borehole?

A Borehole is a deep, round hole drilled into the ground using specialised tools, typically for accessing water or other resources like oil.

Pump Uses

As types of submersible pumps, Borehole and Well Pumps are frequently used for:

• Spraying and Irrigation, including sprinkler systems
• Pumping stored water from water butts, or other bodies of water
• High-Pressure Applications: Borehole pumps are versatile for agricultural and industrial applications.

These pumps are generally used to extract water or liquids from boreholes, which are drilled to specific diameters to fit these pumps. They come in various sizes and models to suit different flow rates and head (pumping height) requirements and are available in both manual and automatic versions.

Automatic pumps save energy by operating only when needed. It should be noted that automatic pumps will need space for the float switch to operate.

How Borehole Pumps Work

Borehole pumps are constructed from corrosion-resistant materials to handle various minerals in the soil and water. Standard submersible pumps may corrode faster and need more frequent replacement.

Due to their narrow shape, borehole pumps are ideal for confined spaces.

What Makes Borehole Pumps Different

Stacked Impellers in borehole pumps allow for several impellers to be positioned one on top of another, which significantly increases the head height. Typically, a pump will either provide high flow or high head.

The stacked impellers create high pressure, pushing water out under considerable force. In contrast, regular submersible pumps, which are wider with a single impeller, offer a higher flow rate but less pressure.

The diagram shows the stacked impellers in the borehole pumps which create the high pressure.

Well Pumps
 

Well pumps, such as the APP MVH-10 Automatic Well Pump offer a compromise between flow and pressure.

They are generally wider than borehole pumps and therefore can have a higher flow rate. The MVH Well Pump is a unique model with a side hose connection, making it suitable for wells but not narrow boreholes. This model serves as a hybrid of borehole and submersible pumps, offering both good head height and flow rate.

The MVH is ideal for powering sprinkler systems or irrigation systems from a water source.

How to Choose the Right Borehole or Well Pump

As the position of the pump could be several metres deep, one of the most crucial factors to consider is the ‘head’ output. The pumps in this category are designed to have a higher head output than normal submersible pumps. You will generally find that the taller the pumps, the higher the head output is (as they have more stacked impellers – covered earlier).

Key Considerations When Selecting a Well or Borehole Pump Include:

• Head Output: The depth of the pump's position is crucial, as these pumps need a higher head output than standard submersible pumps. Generally, taller pumps offer higher head outputs due to additional impellers.
• Fit and Size: Borehole pumps are designed to fit snugly in narrow holes, whereas well pumps are wider, providing higher flow rates.
• Voltage Options: Well and borehole pumps are only available in 230V. 110V would typically lack sufficient power to operate the stacked impellers and provide the high head requirements.
• Automatic or Manual: You should consider whether the pump you require needs a float switch, and if there is sufficient space for this. The Divertron is a different form of automatic pump as it does not use a float switch, rather internal electronics which determine if a tap or valve has been opened, causing the pump to operate.

Special Features

Divertron: This pump model includes integrated electronics that detects when a valve or tap is opened or closed, automatically switching the pump on or off. Ideal for irrigation and tasks like washing cars or watering gardens, the Divertron Submersible Well Water Pump can be connected to a hose and will activate when the hose trigger is engaged.

Acuascub Range: Known for its high-head capability of up to 100m, the Acuascub range is suited for long-distance pumping or drawing water from deep sources such as wells and aquifers.