When the water you need sits tens or hundreds of metres underground, you cannot draw it up from the surface; you have to put the pump down to the water and push it up. That is the job a borehole pump does, lifting water and other liquids from wells, boreholes, reservoirs and tanks to the surface at the flow and pressure the application calls for.
TF Pumps supplies the full range of submersible borehole pumps for agricultural, domestic and industrial work, from manufacturers including Ebara, Lowara and Calpeda. The ranges are below, or call +44 1332 913500 and we will help you match a pump to your borehole.
A borehole pump is built to work inside a borehole, the narrow vertical shaft drilled down to groundwater. Those shafts are usually between four and ten inches across and the water can be a long way down, so the pumps are long, slim and made to sit fully under the water.
The great majority are submersible borehole pumps, with the pump and its motor sealed into one unit below the water line and power fed down on a submersible cable. Pumping from beneath the surface, rather than trying to suck water up from above, sidesteps the cavitation and loss-of-prime problems that defeat surface-mounted pumps on anything but shallow installations. Borehole water pumps draw supply for off-mains homes, feed agricultural irrigation and livestock, run industrial process water, abstract for treatment, and handle dewatering on site.
A submersible borehole pump is two parts bolted into one assembly. The pump end is a stack of centrifugal impellers and diffusers in a stainless or cast-iron body, each stage adding pressure, so more stages mean more lift. Above or below it sits the sealed submersible motor, water-filled for cooling and lubrication. The whole thing hangs in the borehole on a riser pipe that also carries the water up, with a check valve at the outlet to stop the riser draining back when the pump stops, and a cable strapped alongside. At the surface, a control panel handles start and stop, dry-run protection and overload, and on many installations variable speed control. Nothing needs priming because the pump is always under water.
Pumps are matched to the bore they fit into:
Get the sizing wrong and you pay for it: too small and it cannot deliver, too large and it draws the borehole down faster than the aquifer refills, which means dry running and a damaged pump. The numbers that matter are the borehole yield from test pumping, the static and dynamic water levels, the flow you need, and the total dynamic head. We work with drillers and consultants to keep the pump inside the borehole’s sustainable yield.
Cast iron handles clean groundwater. Stainless steel, 304 or 316, is specified for aggressive or high-chloride water and for potable duty, with specialist materials for abrasive or contaminated water. As one of the UK’s established borehole pumps suppliers we draw on Ebara, Lowara, Calpeda, Pentair and Pentax, and we will source from elsewhere when a job needs it.
Installing a borehole pump pulls together mechanical, electrical and hydrogeological work: the pump has to hang true, the riser needs proper support, the cable has to be sized and protected, and the surface gear matched to the motor. Bad installation shortens pump life sharply, so we strongly recommend qualified installers. Once in, a well-set pump in clean water can run ten to fifteen years with little attention. Falling output, rising current and cycling are the warning signs. We suggest an annual check at the surface panel, periodic sampling of the output for sand, and pulling the pump for inspection every five to seven years on critical duties.
If you are planning a new installation or replacing a tired pump, ring +44 1332 913500 with the borehole details and we will specify the right unit.
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.
