Choosing The Right Submersible Pump For Your Site

Site water can range from relatively clean to thick with sludge, corrosive chemicals, or abrasive solids, and each condition places different demands on equipment. The following guide explains how Grindex submersible pumps are designed to meet these challenges and ensure reliable performance on site.  

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Grindex Submersible Drainage Pumps

Drainage pumps are the most common pumps used on construction sites. They handle water with minimal abrasive solids, such as clay, and can also pump water containing sand or suspended solids up to the size of the strainer holes, typically 7–12 mm. Because sand is abrasive, it should not be too concentrated, as high concentrations increase wear and reduce pump lifespan. Drainage pumps are suitable for general site dewatering where water is relatively clean or contains fine particles.

Submersible Drainage Pumps:

• Handle water with minimal abrasive solids (e.g., clay, sand up to strainer size 7–12 mm)
• Suitable for general site dewatering with relatively clean water
• Avoid high sand concentrations to reduce wear and prolong pump life
  
  

Submersible Sludge Pumps

Sludge pumps are designed to handle water containing solids and thicker sludge, meaning mixtures with a higher concentration of solid material that make the fluid denser and more viscous. They can process solids up to the size of the pump inlet, usually 32–80 mm, making them suitable for heavier materials that drainage pumps cannot manage. These pumps are ideal for areas where sediment or organic matter is mixed with water, such as excavation pits, sedimentation ponds, or industrial drainage points.

Submersible Sludge Pumps:

• Process water containing thicker sludge and solids (32–80 mm)
• Ideal for excavation pits, sedimentation ponds, and industrial drainage points
• Can manage materials too heavy for drainage pumps
  
  

Stainless Steel  Submersible Pumps

Stainless steel pumps are used in environments with corrosive fluids, including copper and gold mines or sites handling aggressive chemicals. While aluminium pumps can handle water with a pH range of 5–8, stainless steel pumps can cope with pH values from 2–10. This makes them suitable for applications where water chemistry could otherwise damage standard pumps, ensuring durability and consistent performance in corrosive conditions.

Stainless Steel Submersible Pumps:

• Designed for corrosive fluids (pH 2–10) and aggressive site conditions
• Ensures durability and consistent performance in chemically harsh water
• Suitable for copper/gold mines or chemical-handling sites

Submersible Slurry Pumps

Slurry pumps are designed to handle highly abrasive solids in suspension, such as sand, gravel, or concrete, often at high concentrations (called a slurry). They are commonly used in dredging operations or any situation where water carries large amounts of suspended solids. To withstand abrasion, the hydraulic parts of slurry pumps are made from very hard metal alloys. For improved performance, many slurry pumps are equipped with an agitator, which keeps solids suspended and prevents settling that could block the pump.

Submersible Slurry Pumps:

• Handle highly abrasive solids (sand, gravel, concrete) at high concentrations
• Hydraulic parts made from very hard metal alloys to withstand wear
• Often equipped with an agitator to prevent solids from settling and blocking the pump
  
  

Plug and Pump: Handy Pump Setup

Electrical submersible pumps offer simple “plug and pump” operation, allowing operators to move and deploy pumps easily across a site. Smaller pumps, typically 15–25 kg, can be positioned wherever needed and pump water into a dedicated collection pit. In the pit, a larger pump collects the water from multiple smaller pumps and moves it off-site. This setup allows flexible, scalable dewatering of large areas using several portable pumps, without needing heavy or stationary equipment.

Hand Pumps: 

• Portable submersible pumps (15–25 kg) for easy placement across the site
• Smaller pumps feed a collection pit, where a larger pump moves water off-site
• Enables scalable, flexible dewatering without heavy or stationary equipment

Key Takeaways

Selecting the right submersible pump comes down to three key considerations:

1. the type of solids in the water
2. whether the environment is corrosive, and
3. how flexible the dewatering setup needs to be.

>> Explore the full details in our Grindex brochure 

Information for this article was sourced from the Grindex Pump School.