Choosing a Water Pump

Water Pump Characteristics
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Type of Pump	Advantages	Disadvantages	Applications
Shallow Well Jet	Can be offset from the well	Efficiency decreases as total suction lift increases	Total suction lift less than 6m (20 ft.)
	Can be adapted to wells of various yields	Easily damaged by sand	Commonly used on dugouts*
	Requires little maintenance	Gas locks easily
	Inexpensive
Deep Well Jet	Can be offset from the well	Efficiency decreases as total suction lift increases	Practical for less than 25m (80 ft.) total suction lift
	Can be adapted to wells of various depths and yields	Easily damaged by sand	Used in dugouts in combination with dugout-side well
	Requires little maintenance	Gas locks easily
	Inexpensive
Submersible	Very efficient	Easily damaged by sand	Depth not normally a limiting factor
	High capacity	Gas locks occasionally	Used in dugouts in combination with dugout-side well
	Capable of pumping water from great depth	Minimum well diameter 100 mm (4 in.)
	Requires little maintenance
	Inexpensive
Piston (Shallow and Deep Well)	Deep well pumps are more tolerant of sand than other pumps	Pump service can be costly	Shallow well; total suction lift less than 6m (20 ft.); commonly used on dugouts
	Can pump water containing dissolved gases	Low discharge	Deep well: depth not normally a limiting factor
	Constant rate discharge	Expensive
	Suitable for small diameter wells	Deep well pumps cannot be offset from the well

Daily Water Requirements
Human	225 - 450 L	50 - 100 gal
Beef Cattle	25 - 75 L	5 - 17 gal
Hog	10 - 20 L	2 - 5 gal
100 Turkeys	40 - 60 L	9 - 13 gal
Dairy Cow	35 - 110 L	8 - 24 gal
Horse	30 - 45 L	7 - 10 gal
Sheep	5 - 20 L	1 - 4 gal
100 Chickens	20 - 30 L	5 - 7 gal

. Optimum Pumping Rate (L/min) or (gal./min)
= Water volume required per day
...Minutes of pump time per day
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e.g. 960 gal/day	= 4 gal/min
e.g. 240 min/day

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Well yield
When the farm well is unable ot yield sufficient water to meet the optimum pumping rate, the pump should be chosen to match the well yield. Peak water demand is met by providing one or two large pressure tanks for water storage. Very low well yields (less that 10 L/min. or 2 gal/min.) usually require a cistern for intermediate storage and a second pump.

Well diameter
Wells larger that 100mm (4 in.) in diameter can accommodate most farm water pumps. Wells less that 100 mm (4 in.) in diameter limit the type of pump that can be installed. Normally, deep well piston pumps or specifically designed jet systems are used.

Depths and distances
Other factors to consider are:

Depth to pumping water level
Distance between pump and well (for shallow well pumps and deep well jet pumps)
Distance between pump and final outlet point
Height difference between well and outlets

Available power
Most farm water pumps are available with either 115 volt or 230 volt single phase motors. Normally, a pump will operate more efficiently and consume less power with a 230 volt motor. Larger pumps require three phase motors.

For more information contact an Agricultural Water Specialist with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development at the following locations and phone numbers:

Lethbridge (403) 381-5846
Red Deer (403) 340-5324
Grande Prairie (780) 538-5606
Edmonton (780) 422-5000

Information Required for Sizing a Water Pump

Complete this table if you are purchasing a new water pump. The pump supplier can use this information to provide the correct pump for your situation.

Name____________________________________________________________________________
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Address_________________________________	Phone__________________________________

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Water pump required for:	Well ________
	Dugout______
	Cistern______
	Other_______
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Intended Application	House______
	Barn________
	Feedlot_____
	Irrigation____
	Other_______
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Optimum Pumping Rate	_____L/min _____or gal/min
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Well Depth	____________
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Pumping Water Level	____________
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Well Diameter	____________
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Well Yield	_____L/min _____or gal/min
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Dugout:	Length_____ Width_____ Depth_____ ..... _____m or ft.
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Distance between pump and well or pump and dugout (Shallow well pumps and deep well jet pumps only)	_____m _____or ft.
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Distance between pump location and final outlet point	_____m _____or ft.
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Height difference between well or dugout and outlets	_____m _____or ft.

Source: Agdex 716(C10). Revised February 1993.

For more information about the content of this document, contact Rita Splawinski.
This document is maintained by Jennifer Rutter.
This information published to the web on February 1, 1993.