Submersible Pumps

• What is in the water? Clean rainwater or seepage needs a plain drainage pump. Muddy water, leaves and grit need a dirty-water pump with a vortex or open-channel impeller. Anything from a toilet or septic tank needs a sewage pump with a large free passage.
• How high must it lift? Add the depth of the sump to the height of the outlet above it, plus a little for pipe friction. Check that figure on the pump curve, not just the “max head” on the box.
• How fast must it empty? Flooding and construction dewatering need flow (m³/h); a small sump pit only needs a few hundred litres an hour.
• Automatic or manual? A float switch starts and stops the pump on its own, which is essential for sumps and lift stations.
• 220V or 380V? Up to about 2.2kW you have a choice; larger pumps are three-phase.

For dams, rivers and canals a Vega pump pontoon keeps the pump just under the surface, away from the mud at the bottom, so it lasts far longer.

Can I use a drainage pump for sewage?
No. Drainage pumps have small passages that block on solids and rags. Use a purpose-built sewage pump, which is designed to pass solids and often has a cutter or vortex impeller.

How deep can a submersible pump be installed?
Most drainage and sewage pumps are rated for 5–10 metres of submersion. For anything deeper, such as a borehole, you need a multistage borehole pump.

Can the pump run dry?
Only briefly. Running dry overheats the seal and motor. Fit a float switch, or a level controller, so the pump stops when the water is gone.

Do you supply spares and seals?
Yes, we supply seals, impellers and float switches for the ranges we sell. Contact us with the pump model.