Garden Watering Pump Kit for Rivers, Wells, Lakes & Water Butts
Built for the job
Garden Irrigation Pump Kit for Rivers, Wells, Lakes & Water Butts
A complete submersible irrigation pump kit for drawing clean water from suitable rivers, wells, lakes, ponds, tanks and water butts.
The FPS Engineered™ Garden Irrigation Pump Kit provides the pump, 25 mm delivery hose and fittings needed to create a practical alternative-water irrigation system. It is particularly well suited to garden sprinklers and other applications where water can flow continuously while the pump is operating.
At the heart of the kit is the APP MVH-10A automatic submersible well pump, part of our wider well and borehole pump range.
The pump sits directly within the water source and pushes water through the supplied 25 mm hose. At the end of the main hose run, the included reducer kit lets a short section of standard 12.5 mm garden hose be connected for attaching a sprinkler or compatible garden irrigation fitting.
Do you need an abstraction licence?
In England, you are likely to need an abstraction licence from the Environment Agency if you intend to take more than 20 cubic metres, or 20,000 litres, in a day from a river, stream, lake, pond, canal, reservoir, spring or underground source.
Smaller abstractions are often exempt, but exemptions have narrowed in recent years, so do not assume, and other permissions may still apply. Always confirm that you have the landowner's permission and that abstraction is lawful and environmentally appropriate for the source. You can check whether you need a licence on GOV.UK.
Pump connections
The kit includes fittings for two possible arrangements at the pump:
- Horizontal outlet: connect the 25 mm hose tail directly to the pump so the delivery hose leaves the pump horizontally.
- Vertical outlet: use the supplied threaded nipple and elbow hose tail where it is preferable for the delivery hose to rise vertically from the pump.
The hose is pushed fully over the ribbed hose tail and secured around the outside using the supplied stainless-steel hose clip.
What's in the kit:
- 1 × APP MVH-10A automatic submersible well and irrigation pump
- Your choice of delivery hose.
- 25 mm male BSP hose tail for a horizontal hose connection directly from the pump
- 25 mm threaded nipple and female BSP elbow hose tail for an optional vertical hose connection
- 25 mm stainless-steel hose clip for securing the delivery hose
- 25 mm to 12.5 mm garden hose reducer kit - Hose tails, reducing nipple and hose clips required to connect the supplied 25 mm hose to a short length of standard 12.5 mm garden hose
Please note: the sprinkler, garden hose, spray gun and garden-hose quick connectors shown or referred to are not included.
Hose Choices
This kit is supplied with your choice of 25 mm (1 inch) delivery hose. Either green Suction & Delivery Hose, or yellow High Pressure Delivery Hose.
Both are rated to 7 bar, comfortably above the pressure this pump produces, so either suits the job. The difference is weight and handling:
- Green suction & delivery: lighter, and it can draw water up as well as deliver, so it is the more versatile choice.
- Yellow high-pressure delivery: more flexible and UV resistant, so it is easier to route and store, but it is for delivery only.
| Green suction & delivery | Yellow high-pressure delivery | |
|---|---|---|
| Working pressure | 7 bar | 7 bar |
| Lengths | 6, 10, 20, 30 m | 10, 15, 25 m |
| Weight | 0.30 kg/m | 0.42 kg/m |
How the irrigation system works
- Place the MVH-10A upright and fully submerged within a suitable clean-water source.
- Connect the selected outlet arrangement and the supplied 25 mm delivery hose.
- Run the 25 mm hose for the majority of the distance to minimise friction loss.
- At the end of the run, should you wish to use standard garden attachments, fit the supplied 25 mm to 12.5 mm reducer kit. For agricultural, commercial or higher-flow applications, the 25 mm hose can usually be retained throughout for better flow and reduced friction loss.
- Connect a short section of standard garden hose to your sprinkler or irrigation attachment.
- Power the pump from a suitable protected 230 V electrical supply.
The MVH-10A uses a float switch. It operates according to the water level surrounding the pump, rather than responding to pressure or to the opening and closing of a tap.
Important: this is not a pressure-controlled pump
Water must be able to discharge continuously while the pump is running.
The MVH-10A does not automatically stop when a hose trigger is released, a nozzle is closed or a downstream tap is turned off. Closing the outlet while the pump continues to run may cause it to operate against a closed discharge.
When using a spray-gun nozzle, keep it locked or held in the open position whenever the pump is operating. Do not rely on releasing the trigger to stop the pump. Switch the pump off at its electrical supply before closing the outlet or disconnecting equipment.
For that reason, this kit is best suited to sprinklers, open-ended irrigation systems and other continuously discharging applications.
A pressure-controlled pump such as the DAB Divertron may be more appropriate where frequent on-demand operation from taps or trigger nozzles is required. However, pressure-controlled pumps can cycle on and off when used with oscillating sprinklers whose flow or pressure varies, which is why we usually recommend the level-controlled MVH-10A for sprinkler duty. For alternatives, see our full irrigation pump range.
Read our guide: What pump do I need for garden sprinklers?
25 mm to 12.5 mm garden hose reducer
The supplied reducer kit allows a short length of standard 12.5 mm garden hose to be connected to the end of the 25 mm delivery hose. It includes:
- 25 mm female hose tail
- 25 mm to 12.5 mm reducing nipple
- 12.5 mm hose tail
- Hose clips for securing both hoses to their respective hose tails
The 25 mm hose slides over the larger hose tail and the 12.5 mm garden hose slides over the smaller hose tail. Each hose is then secured around the outside using the appropriate hose clip.
For best performance, the main delivery run should remain 25 mm in diameter. The reduced 12.5 mm garden-hose section should ideally be limited to approximately 1 to 2 metres.
Longer lengths of 12.5 mm hose create substantially greater friction loss and may significantly reduce the flow and pressure available at the sprinkler. The reducer is intended primarily to provide a convenient final connection to garden-hose fittings and irrigation accessories, rather than to operate the full delivery run through standard garden hose.
Typical uses
- Garden irrigation from suitable rivers, lakes and ponds
- Drawing water from wells and larger water-storage tanks
- Rainwater harvesting and water-butt irrigation
- Oscillating, rotating and static garden sprinklers
- Open-ended watering and irrigation systems
- Washdown where the outlet remains open while the pump is operating
Why choose the MVH-10A irrigation kit?
- Complete connection kit: includes the principal hose and fittings needed to create an irrigation setup
- Suitable for continuous sprinkler operation: level-controlled rather than pressure-demand controlled
- Up to 32 m maximum head: provides useful pressure for suitable irrigation applications
- Up to 110 litres per minute: capable of supplying substantially more water than a standard small garden pump under low-head conditions
- 25 mm main hose: helps reduce friction loss compared with running the full distance through 12.5 mm garden hose
- Automatic low-water protection: the float switch stops the pump when the surrounding water level falls
- Flexible outlet arrangement: fittings supplied for horizontal or vertical hose routing
- Robust construction: stainless-steel motor housing, strainer and shaft components
Example Flow Rate and Pump Performance at Different Hose Lengths
Maximum flow and maximum head are opposite ends of the pump-performance curve and are not achieved at the same time. Actual performance depends on the vertical lift, hose length, hose diameter, fittings, sprinkler requirements and friction losses within the completed installation.
| 1st hose run from pump (25 mm) | Hose after reducer (12.5 mm) | Uphill elevation | Approx. flow rate | Estimated friction loss | Remaining head |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 m | 1 m | 2 m | 71 L/min | 9.4 m | 20.6 m (2.02 bar) |
| 20 m | 1 m | 2 m | 67 L/min | 10.6 m | 19.4 m (1.90 bar) |
| 30 m | 1 m | 2 m | 63 L/min | 11.4 m | 18.6 m (1.83 bar) |
| 10 m | 2 m | 2 m | 61 L/min | 12.4 m | 17.6 m (1.73 bar) |
| 20 m | 2 m | 2 m | 58 L/min | 12.9 m | 17.1 m (1.67 bar) |
| 30 m | 2 m | 2 m | 56 L/min | 13.7 m | 16.3 m (1.60 bar) |
| 10 m | 10 m | 2 m | 35 L/min | 19.6 m | 10.4 m (1.02 bar) |
Assumptions: Based on maximum head of 32 m, approximately 2 m uphill elevation, smooth hose, nominal 25 mm and 12.5 mm internal diameters, and no allowance for additional fittings, bends or sprinkler losses. Figures are approximate and intended as a guide only. Friction losses have been estimated using the Hazen-Williams equation and an assumed Hazen-Williams coefficient of C = 150 for smooth hose.
Technical specification
| Specification | APP MVH-10A |
|---|---|
| Operation | Automatic float switch |
| Pump type | Submersible clean-water well and irrigation pump |
| Outlet | 25 mm |
| Motor power | 0.55 kW |
| Voltage | 230 V single phase |
| Maximum flow | 110 litres per minute |
| Maximum head | 32 metres |
| Maximum submersion depth | 8 metres |
| Water temperature | 0°C to 40°C |
| Power cable | 10 metres |
| Dimensions | 162 × 171 × 461 mm |
| Weight | 9.3 kg |
| Available hose lengths | 10 m, 15 m or 25 m of 25 mm delivery hose |
Installation and water-quality guidance
- Use with clean water or water containing only very fine suspended material.
- Do not use for sewage, silty water, abrasive sediment or heavily contaminated water.
- Where drawing from a natural water source, keep the pump clear of the bed or bottom to reduce the intake of mud, gravel and organic debris.
- Ensure that the float switch has sufficient space to move freely.
- Do not lift, lower or suspend the pump using its electrical cable.
- Provide suitable electrical protection and keep plugs and connections dry.
- Do not allow the pump to operate against a closed valve, closed nozzle or blocked discharge.
- Do not use the pump for permanent pond circulation, filtration, fountains or aeration.
Using untreated water safely
When using untreated water for irrigation, please take sensible precautions.
This kit moves water. It does not treat, filter or disinfect it.
Water taken from rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, wells, tanks and water butts is not drinking water. It can contain bacteria, viruses, chemicals, agricultural run-off, algae or other contaminants even when it looks clear. Assessing whether a source is suitable for your intended use is your responsibility.
Do not use this pump to supply water for drinking, food preparation or filling drinking-water systems.
Before pumping from a river, lake or stream
Owning the pump does not itself give you the right to take water from a natural source. You may need the permission of the landowner, riparian owner or waterbody operator, and environmental or abstraction restrictions may apply. During dry weather or drought, additional restrictions may also be introduced to protect flows, habitats and other water users.
Read our guide: Can I pump water from a river or stream?
Frequently asked questions
Is water from this pump safe to drink?
No. The kit moves water but does not treat, filter or disinfect it. Water from rivers, ponds, wells, tanks and water butts is not drinking water and can contain bacteria, chemicals or algae even when it looks clear. Do not use it for drinking, food preparation or filling drinking-water systems.
Can I use the pump with a spray gun or trigger nozzle?
Only if the nozzle stays locked in the open position. The MVH-10A is controlled by water level, not by pressure, so it does not stop when you release a trigger. Closing the outlet while it runs makes it pump against a closed discharge. Switch the pump off at its plug before closing the outlet.
Will it run an oscillating sprinkler?
Yes. Because it is level-controlled rather than pressure-controlled, it does not cycle on and off with a sprinkler whose flow or pressure varies. That is why we usually recommend it over a pressure-controlled pump such as the DAB Divertron for sprinkler duty.
Can I connect it to an ordinary garden hose?
The main delivery run should stay 25 mm to limit friction loss. The supplied reducer lets you connect a short length, ideally about 1 to 2 metres, of standard 12.5 mm garden hose at the end for a sprinkler or fitting. Longer runs of 12.5 mm hose reduce the flow and pressure significantly.
