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Dredge pumps

Improve maintenance and extraction efficiency with Dragflow dredge pumps.

    Better for your bottom line.

    Getting your sludge and slurry flowing smoothly has significant financial upsides. The Prime Fluid Management team has been improving pond maintenance and extraction efficiency for customers for more than 20 years. Dragflow dredge pumps and mini dredges are a key part of our solutions. Their innovation in portable dredge technology makes them a natural fit for New Zealand’s challenging and often remote site environments. Dragflow offers highly customisable, precision dredging solutions designed to minimise environmental impact, deliver superior wear and significant energy efficiency. The net result is faster, safer, more cost-effective maintenance or extraction.
    DURABILITY

    Built for extreme environments

    Dragflow dredge pumps and mini dredges deal efficiently to large volumes of sediment-laden water. They are well-suited to reclamation and coastal protection work, and pond and channel cleaning.

    Key features include:

    • High efficiency agitator, reversible and high chrome for long life and continuous flow lifting of deposited sediments.
    • Low rotation speed: reduced wear and long-term efficiency.
    • Rugged and heavy-duty construction: highly resistant components for loaded and abrasive mixes.
    Built for extreme environments
    ECONOMY

    The cost of poor performance

    Efficient slurry and sludge management solutions will significantly improve your bottom line, with ‘hidden’ savings helping the systems to pay for themselves:

    • Reduced power consumption
    • Fewer breakdowns, lower maintenance requirement
    • Less staff and equipment required to deliver the same or better solution
    • Improved monitoring and reporting
    The cost of poor performance

    Overview of our Dredge Pumps

    Mini Dredges

    Maximise versatility and effectiveness with Dragflow's small but mighty mini dredges.
    Remote-controlled, easy to transport, easy to assemble.

    Remote-controlled and Autonomous Dredges Maximise operator safety and minimise downtime with unmanned dredges. 
    Cable Dredges Access difficult locations with compact dredges that can work to depths of over 200m. 
    Amphibious Dredges Adapt to land or water with powerful and effective multi-purpose machines. 
    Aquatic Harvesters Keep waterways clean and navigate without the use of chemicals. 
    Heavy-duty Electric Dredge Pumps

    These electric dredge pumps are often used for extracting material below the water table, or maintaining sludge levels. 

    • Size: 75mm – 300mm (3”-12”)
    • Max flow: 833 L/s
    • Max head: 120m
    • Max Solids: 120mm
    Hydraulic Dredge Pumps

    Designed to handle heavy slurries, primarily used for sludge transfer. Capable of pumping up to 70% of solids by wieght. 

    • Size: 100mm – 355mm (4”-14”)
    • Max flow: 1,111 L/s
    • Max head: 68m
    • Max Solids: 120mm
    Jetting Ring

    Agitate compact sludge and other materials with powerful water jets.

    • Electric & hydraulic models
    • Filter & non-return valve
    • Delivery line
    Side Cutters

    Combined with the dredge pump’s agitator, these excavators break compacted material so that it can be drawn into the pump and discharged

    • Replacable teeth
    • Electric & hydraulic models

    View our full range of dredge pumps and dredges

    GALLERY

    In the field

    Here are some examples of our solutions being used.

    Read Dewatering, Bypass & Sewage articles

    See other Dewatering, Bypass & Sewage Pumps

    They brought their mechanics, they didn't just dump it and leave….couldn't have done it without them to be honest

    Mark CadwalladerCatchment Worker

    This sort of unique system you set up is what sets you apart from others in the Market

    Jacob Warmsley Project Manager

    I had an amazing experience with Prime Pump at the Transmission Gully ... will recommend you guys anytime and anywhere.

    Peter FisherDirector

    You guys had our backs from the get-go and stood beside us and persevered.

    DaveOps Director

    We called for a different type of solution…... We were pretty happy with what's been delivered

    Rob KerrProject Director

    Prime supplied us with the best solution for hire and the instant availability was what we needed… We certainly will be using them in the future

    Priscilla EllmersWastewater Supervisor

    Make an enquiry

    Let’s sort your fluid management needs 
    Speak to an expert

    Ricardo Holt

    Ricardo Holt
    Sales Team Leader

    Brent Petrie

    Brent Petrie
    Sales Engineer

    Charlie Petrie

    Charlie Petrie
    Sales Manager

    Questions

    FAQ

    At Prime Fluid Management, we understand that every fluid management challenge brings unique considerations. Here, you’ll find clear, practical answers and expert guidance to help you maximise uptime, achieve regulatory compliance, extend equipment life, and implement the most effective solution for your site. 

    How does a wellpointing system work on site?

    A wellpointing system uses a series of small-diameter wellpoints installed in a line or ring around an excavation. Each wellpoint is a screened inlet, connected via a riser pipe to a header main that runs back to the wellpointing pump.

    At Prime Fluid Management, we pair this layout with positive displacement piston pumps that deliver consistent high pressure, automatically prime, and move a mixture of water and air without restriction. This setup lowers the groundwater level around the excavation, creating a more stable and workable site in New Zealand’s variable soil conditions.

    What do wellpoints, riser pipes (risers) and swing joints do in a wellpointing system?

    In a typical wellpointing setup:

    • Wellpoints or filters are the screened inlet sections installed in the ground that draw groundwater into the system.
    • Riser pipes or risers are the vertical pipes that connect each filter up to the surface and into the header main. 
    • Swing joints are the flexible connections between each riser and the header main, usually incorporating a valve so flow from each wellpoint can be adjusted or isolated as needed.

    At Prime Fluid Management, our wells and accessories range includes steel wells, PVC and self-jetting wellpoints, header pipes and swing joints. Your wellpointing system can be set up and fine-tuned to suit site conditions — or our experienced operations crew can help you configure an optimal system when hiring our equipment.

    Why use slotted screen wellpoints?

    Because different ground conditions call for either slotted screen or wedge-wire wellpoints, slotted screen designs are often used where sand control and steady groundwater intake are needed. At Prime Fluid Management, we supply PVC slotted screen wellpoints, also commonly referred to as spears, which are simple to install, economical and reusable.

    For more substantial groundwater flows or tougher ground conditions, we also supply 150mm (6 inch) steel wells — custom-designed by our team. These ensure fast installation and improved water quality. 

    The slotted screens create a controlled intake area that allows groundwater to enter freely while keeping sand and fines out of the system. This helps protect pumps and maintain system performance over longer operating periods.

    To view the full range of wellpointing pumps and accessories, download our Civil, Quarrying and Mining Product Guide 2026

    What is a jetting lance and how does it work with your jetting pumps and jetting units?

    A jetting lance is the handheld pipe used to install wellpoints. It connects to a high-pressure jetting pump and directs water into the ground to fluidise the soil, allowing each wellpoint and riser to be jetted down to its design depth.

    At Prime Fluid Management, we have jetting pumps and jetting units that are purpose-built for this task — providing compact, high-pressure pumping for installing wellpoints and other jetting applications. Options include skid-mounted units with twin 1,200 L tanks, along with remote-controlled outlets for jetting and dust suppression.

    When is a wellpointing solution the right choice compared with other dewatering methods?

    Wellpointing is often the right choice for shallow to moderate depth excavations where you need controlled drawdown of the groundwater table along a trench or around a structure.

    It’s widely used on New Zealand civil sites for pipelines, shallow foundations, services and pits — particularly in sandy or fine-grained soils where open pumping is not enough to keep the excavation stable.

    At Prime Fluid Management, we design wellpointing solutions around your project requirements, matching piston pumps, wells, risers, swing joints and jetting equipment to local soil conditions, perched water and site constraints. If wellpointing isn’t the best fit, we can also assess alternative options in the dewatering, bypass and stormwater range, including auto-prime pumps and drainage submersible solutions.

    Why use a piston pump for wellpoint dewatering?

    Piston pumps provide reliable suction in unpredictable ground conditions. They use positive displacement to move water and air through a sealed chamber, making them ideal for wellpointing applications where a consistent vacuum must be maintained — even with low or fluctuating inflow. This makes piston pumps highly dependable in unstable soils. 

    At Prime Fluid Management, we supply the BBA PT-Series piston pump range, which offers unmatched economy of use. These pumps are highly fuel efficient and maintenance-friendly, requiring servicing only every 1,500 hours — up to six times longer than standard piston pumps. You can read 

    The PT-Series is available in battery-electric, diesel and hybrid configurations, providing flexible drive options to suit different site requirements. Find out more in our article about BBA Piston Pump efficiency.