Irrigation

MikeL_2

Looking for opinions, experiences, or a guide for best standard practice.

Is it safe to use a submersible pump in a pond or lake for irrigation?

Larry Weingarten

Hi, This is more a question, but keeping the pump free of debris like leaves, twigs and mud seems important. Have you a plan for doing that along with making the pump easy to service? 🤔

Yours, Larry

MikeL_2

Larry,

I'm more concerned about the potential for electrocution. I've always used a jet pump with the foot valve in a pail full of holes.

Jamie Hall

Plenty of submersible pumps used for irrigation — from ponds or rivers or what have you. One thing to remember, though — they are happier when they are in a shroud — length of pipe — which forces circulation past the motor. Not really necessary, but it doesn't hurt. Those motors are meant to be water cooled…

The shroud can be any pipe which is correct for the pum — so a 6 inch pipe, say, for a 4 inch submersible. Seal the "top" end, and put a generous screen on the "bottom" end.

You won't have a problem with crud build up if the pump has no check valve and there is a generous length of pipe beyond it, so that the water in that pipe can flow back and flush stuff off the screen. If the pump is running continuously for days at a time, though, you may want to have a way to shut it off and lift it out now and then!

One thing: submersibles have fairly tight tolerances, and don't get on well with sandy water. For that, use a jet pump with some piping arrangement so that the motive flow doesn't entrain sand. Can be a bit tricky…

Electrocution? Not a hazard if you wire it up exactly as you would any other submersible… No splices underwater! Except at the pump itself, as the manufacturer intends.

hot_rod

I suspended my pond submersible in a cage of 6X6 concrete mesh. Just a rolled up round cage. This kept it off the bottom and it had good circulation all around.

Attach a nylon rope for easy removal without pulling on the pipe.