Choosing a pump

It is important to understand that matching pump size with the specific irrigation application is essential. The designer of the irrigation system should have done the calculations and selected the most appropriate pump. The two main pumps used for irrigation would be the reciprocating (positive displacement) pump and the centrifugal (hydrodynamic) pump.

When deciding which pump to use for a specific application, the choice of pumps is wide, however some can be ruled out because of the particular site conditions. There may be high silt and abrasive particles in the water source or the suction lift may be too high. Pump manufacturers detail the efficiency of their different pumps in Performance Data Sheets which can guide designers in choosing the correct pump.

When water movement is all that is required from a source to a header tank, the reciprocating pump would be preferred.

When requiring high water flow, high pressure and consistent delivery, the centrifugal pumps are the best ones to use.