Choosing submersible dewatering pumps

If mains electricity is available, an electric pump will be the best choice in most cases. This is the simplest, most energy-efficient, and most economical approach. Electric submersible pumps provide high power in light and compact packages. They are easy to transport, handle, install, and operate – with low maintenance requirements and simple servicing procedures further reducing the cost...

A pneumatic submersible pump is the best-suited choice where an air compressor is already present onsite to power drilling equipment. Another important application is in potentially flammable situations where sparks must be avoided, as the pump itself has no electrical components.

While pneumatic pumps have advantages in specific circumstances, it would not be cost-effective to invest in an air compressor solely to provide pumping on remote sites. Where mains electricity is unavailable, a portable generator and hydraulic pump are the sensible option.

The nature of the liquid being pumped has a major bearing on selection of pump types and models. Although they are all described as submersible dewatering pumps, they can be broadly subdivided into the following groups:

In terms of capacity, a pump’s performance that matches the amount of liquid that needs to be moved at a certain speed should be specified. An overly specified model will be unnecessarily expensive, while an under-capacity pump will struggle to do the job and will wear out quickly. It must have enough capacity to cope with fluctuations in water level and offer enough versatility to deal with...