4 Factors When Selecting a Borehole Pump
Posted on: 31 July 2017
The performance and total cost of ownership of your borehole will depend on how much care was taken when selecting the right pump for that project. This article discusses some of the variables that determine the most appropriate pump for a given borehole installation.
The Purpose of the Borehole
The reason why you are drilling that borehole will determine the specifications of the pump that you place inside that borehole. For example, a borehole that will be used to supply water to a sprinkler irrigation system will require a pump that can supply limited amounts of water at very high pressure. This is in contrast to the pump that will be needed to move water to a storage tank. Such a pump needs to move a large volume of water at relatively low pressure. You should define what you will use the water for so that an appropriate pump is selected.
Borehole Diameter
The diameter of the borehole that is being drilled also influences the pump selection process. For instance, you cannot buy a pump with a wide diameter if the borehole that has been drilled has a small diameter. Such a pump will not fit into that borehole.
Borehole Recharge Rate
Installers usually estimate how deep the water in the borehole is going to be. This is because the level of the water keeps fluctuating depending on several factors, such as the season of the year and how quickly you will be pumping water out of the borehole. The pump selected should be able to draw the water up under all conditions. For instance, the pump has to pump water when the water is at its lowest level during the dry season. Borehole recharge rates are low during such times.
The Pumping Distance
As already mentioned, the water has to travel from the borehole to the surface of the ground. From there, it has to travel a horizontal distance to the storage tank. Usually, storage tanks are elevated so that gravity can move the water to the different points of use. Water must therefore be pushed up that vertical elevation to the tank. All these distances play a role in selecting the bore pump to be installed.
As you can see, the task of selecting a borehole pump involves accounting for several variables. You should therefore ask an expert to perform the selection exercise if you lack the skills to do it on your own. This will save you from the risks associated with an undersized or oversized water pump.
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