A borehole pump is a specialised pump designed to lift water, or other liquids, from deep underground sources. Wells, boreholes, reservoirs, mine shafts and storage tanks all rely on borehole pumps to bring water to the surface at the flow and pressure required.
At TF Pumps we supply a full range of submersible borehole pumps for agricultural, domestic and industrial applications across the UK, from all the major manufacturers including Ebara, Lowara, Calpeda, Pentair and Pentax. Browse our borehole water pump ranges below, or call us on +44 1332 913500 if you’d like us to help select the right pump for your borehole.
Engineers design borehole pumps to operate inside a borehole, a narrow, deep vertical shaft drilled to access groundwater. Because the water source often sits many metres below ground and the shaft typically measures between 4 and 10 inches in diameter, these pumps take a long, slender form built for complete submersion.
The vast majority are submersible borehole pumps: a sealed unit houses both the pump and its electric motor below the water level, with a submersible cable supplying power. As a result, the pump pushes water up from below the surface rather than trying to draw it up from above, which eliminates the cavitation and loss-of-prime problems that affect surface-mounted pumps on deep installations.
A submersible borehole pump consists of two main components bolted together: a pump end (a stack of centrifugal impellers and diffusers, the more stages, the higher the lift) and a sealed submersible motor. The assembly hangs in the borehole on a riser pipe, with a check valve at the outlet to stop water draining back down when the pump stops. A submersible cable, strapped to the riser, carries power down to the motor. At the surface, a control panel manages start/stop, dry-run protection and overload protection, and may also include variable speed control.
We size borehole pumps by the nominal diameter of the borehole they fit:
Correct sizing is essential, because undersized pumps will not deliver the flow you need, while oversized pumps draw the borehole down faster than it recharges, ultimately causing dry running and damage. Therefore, the key inputs are borehole yield (established by test pumping), static and dynamic water levels, required flow rate and total dynamic head. Simply send us the borehole test data and application details, and we’ll specify correctly.
Borehole pumps serve as the workhorse of UK farm water supply. For example, they handle field irrigation, polytunnel watering, dairy parlour supply, poultry shed drinking systems and general farmhouse use. Because farms often sit in remote areas without mains water, a reliable submersible borehole pump is essential for day-to-day operations.
Standard cast-iron pumps suit clean groundwater. However, you should specify stainless steel (304 or 316) where water is aggressive, high-chloride or potable. In addition, we offer specialist materials for abrasive or contaminated water.
As one of the UK’s established borehole pumps suppliers, we stock pumps from all the major manufacturers: Ebara (including the hydraulic range for specialist applications), Lowara and Calpeda. Because we work as independent specifiers, we select the right pump for each project rather than defaulting to any single brand.
Planning a new borehole installation or replacing an existing pump? As experienced borehole pumps suppliers, we can help you choose the right solution, call us on +44 1332 913500 with your borehole details and application.
A correctly sized and installed submersible borehole pump in clean groundwater typically lasts 10-15 years. However, aggressive water, sand or other abrasives, frequent cycling or undersized cable can all shorten that lifespan significantly. Therefore, investing in quality pumps from reputable manufacturers, matched to a well-tested borehole, always represents the best long-term value.
It depends on three things: the flow rate your application needs, the total head the pump must deliver against, and the yield of the borehole itself. For example, a typical domestic application might need a 4-inch pump delivering 1-2 m³/hr at 80-120 m head. In contrast, a farm irrigation system could require a 6-inch pump delivering 30 m³/hr at 60 m head. Send us the details and we will specify correctly.
Modern submersible borehole pumps can lift water from depths of several hundred metres. Standard 4-inch pumps typically handle around 300 m total head, while 6-inch pumps reach 600 m or more. In practice, borehole depth, cable sizing and motor rating tend to set the limits rather than the pump itself.
No, a submersible borehole pump relies on the surrounding water to cool the motor, so running dry causes rapid motor damage. Because of this, every installation should include dry-run protection: typically a level probe, pressure switch or current monitor that shuts the pump down if the water level falls below a safe point.
Unlike surface pumps, you do not routinely service borehole pumps in situ because pulling the pump is a significant job. However, annual checks at the surface control panel are sensible. In addition, a full pump pull and inspection every 5-7 years on critical duties, or immediately when you notice falling performance, represents good practice.
Absolutely! If you’re unsure which pump best fits your application, our team is here to help. You can pop up to our live chat for instant support, or simply send your requirements and pump details to sales@tfpumps.com. One of our experts will then quickly recommend the most suitable pump for your needs.
