Search
Products

What Are the Top 10 Types of Submersible Pumps?

Submersible pumps place the pump and motor below the liquid surface. The unit pushes fluid through a discharge line, while its sealed housing helps protect electrical components from water. Designs differ in how they handle flow, pressure, debris, and continuous operation. The right choice depends on the liquid and the job—not just the pump’s advertised power.

This guide introduces ten common types, including drainage, sewage, grinder, dewatering, borehole, well, sump, fountain, slurry, and utility pumps. Their names can overlap. The labels can blur. A sewage model, for example, may pass solids that would clog a clean-water pump, while a borehole pump is built for a narrow well and deeper lift. Before choosing, check the required flow rate, total head, liquid temperature, and solids size. Also consider the pump’s construction materials and duty cycle. A manufacturer’s performance curve can show how output changes as pumping height increases. Installation details matter, too: follow the manual, use suitable electrical protection, and avoid running a pump dry unless its design permits it. A few specifications may seem tedious. They can prevent a costly mismatch. The comparisons ahead explain what each type is designed to move and where its limits may matter.

What Are the Top 10 Types of Submersible Pumps?
Table of Contents [Hide]
1 How Submersible Pumps Work and How They Are Classified
2 Wastewater, Sewage, Drainage, and Dewatering Submersible Pumps
3 Well, Borehole, and Deep-Well Submersible Pumps
4 Slurry, Grinder, and Fountain Submersible Pumps
5 How to Choose the Right Type of Submersible Pump

How Submersible Pumps Work and How They Are Classified

A submersible pump moves liquid while its motor and hydraulic end sit below the waterline. Liquid enters through a screened intake. An impeller spins inside the casing, adding velocity; the casing or diffuser turns that motion into pressure. The sealed motor housing keeps water away from electrical parts, while a discharge pipe carries fluid upward. The pump must remain within its rated depth and operating range. Small details matter: grit can wear an impeller, and a blocked intake can reduce flow.

“Top 10” is not a formal engineering ranking. Common submersible categories include drainage, sump, sewage, grinder, slurry, borehole, fountain, axial-flow, mixed-flow, and multistage pumps. These labels describe different duties, hydraulic designs, or both, so categories can overlap. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Improving Pumping System Performance report notes that pumping systems use nearly 20% of global electrical energy demand. That figure covers pumping systems broadly, not submersible pumps alone. Still, it shows why matching flow and head matters.

Tips: Check the liquid’s solids content, required flow, total head, and installation depth before selecting a pump. Compare the pump curve with the actual duty point. A tidy classification can help, but it cannot replace field measurements; real systems rarely behave as neatly as a chart.

Wastewater, Sewage, Drainage, and Dewatering Submersible Pumps

Submersible pumps are selected by what the water carries, not by the label alone. Wastewater pumps move process water containing suspended solids; non-clog, open-channel impellers help reduce blockages. Sewage pumps handle raw sewage and larger solids, while grinder models cut fibrous waste in systems that need it. Not interchangeable. A wet well may look calm, yet wipes can wrap around an unsuitable impeller.

Drainage pumps typically remove stormwater, seepage, or lightly contaminated water from basements and worksites. Dewatering pumps are chosen for sustained drawdown, often with abrasion-resistant parts when sand enters the intake. Match solids size, flow, total head, and duty cycle; a high flow rating alone can mislead. Check the curve.

The UN World Water Development Report 2017 estimated that over 80% of wastewater worldwide was discharged without adequate treatment. The U.S. EPA’s 2022 Clean Watersheds Needs Survey estimated $630.1 billion in wastewater and stormwater infrastructure needs over 20 years. These figures describe system pressure, not pump performance.

Field checks still matter: measure grit, inspect float travel, and verify discharge piping. Selection can remain uncertain when inflow swings sharply.

Well, Borehole, and Deep-Well Submersible Pumps

Well, borehole, and deep-well submersible pumps all operate below the water surface, but the terms can overlap. A well pump usually describes the application, while borehole pump refers to a narrow, drilled shaft. Many borehole models use a slim, multistage design to fit inside the casing. The motor and pump sit underwater, pushing water upward through a delivery pipe. That matters.

A deep-well pump is selected for a greater lifting distance, not simply because a well looks deep. Pump sizing depends on the water level during pumping, desired flow, pipe friction, and required pressure. A household borehole may need a different setup from an irrigation well, even when both reach similar depths. Check the casing diameter, water yield, and pump curve before choosing. Terms vary between suppliers, so compare specifications rather than relying on the label alone.

Tips: Measure the pumping water level, not just the total well depth. Keep the pump above sediment, and use dry-run protection where water levels can fall. A small detail, but an important one. If sand or grit appears in the water, investigate the well and installation before assuming a stronger pump will solve it.

Slurry, Grinder, and Fountain Submersible Pumps

Slurry, grinder, and fountain pumps solve different problems, though all sit below the waterline. Slurry pumps move water carrying abrasive solids, such as sand or mineral particles. Their wear-resistant wetted parts and suitable impeller clearances matter; ordinary wastewater pumps may wear quickly in gritty service. Grinder pumps handle wastewater containing fibrous solids. A cutting mechanism reduces material before it enters the discharge line, but it does not make every blockage disappear. I would check the solids load and pipe layout, not just the pump’s advertised capacity.

Fountain pumps are designed for cleaner water and steady circulation. A blocked intake can weaken a display or overheat equipment, so screens and regular cleaning matter. Energy deserves attention, too. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Improving Pumping System Performance: A Sourcebook for Industry estimates that pumping systems account for nearly 20% of global electricity demand. That figure covers pumping broadly, not these three types alone. Still, it shows why matching pump duty to the actual flow and head is important. Hydraulic Institute guidance for slurry pump selection also emphasizes service conditions, including particle size and concentration. Small details count. A pump that looks correctly sized on paper may perform poorly when the liquid’s solids content changes.

What Are the Top 10 Types of Submersible Pumps? - Slurry, Grinder, and Fountain Submersible Pumps

Typical applications and characteristics are summarized below. Solids-handling capacity and operating limits vary by pump design and model.

Pump type Typical fluid and solids Common applications Typical design feature
Sewage (non-clog) Raw wastewater containing suspended solids and fibrous material; passage capacity depends on the impeller and discharge size. Municipal lift stations, wastewater systems, and sewage ejector installations. A non-clog or vortex-style impeller helps pass solids through the pump.
Grinder Wastewater with sewage solids that can be cut or macerated; not generally suited to heavy abrasive grit. Pressure sewer systems and installations requiring wastewater to be pumped through smaller-diameter piping. A cutter mechanism reduces solids before they enter the pumping passage.
Effluent Treated or partially treated wastewater, usually with fewer and smaller solids than raw sewage. Septic tank effluent, wastewater treatment systems, and leach-field distribution. Designed for relatively low-solids liquid; solids limits should be checked for the specific pump.
Slurry Liquid carrying dense or abrasive particles such as sand, mineral fines, or process solids. Mining, mineral processing, dredging, and industrial solids handling. Wear-resistant wetted parts and robust impeller designs help withstand abrasive service; some models include an agitator.
Dewatering Groundwater or accumulated water, sometimes containing limited silt or small debris, depending on the model. Construction sites, excavations, tunnels, and temporary water removal. Often built for portable site use and continuous water removal; sediment tolerance varies by design.
Drainage Relatively clean or lightly dirty water, with small particles only where the pump is rated to handle them. Draining flooded areas, tanks, pits, and low-lying spaces. Typically uses a water-oriented impeller; it is not a substitute for an abrasive slurry pump.
Sump Water collected in a sump pit, usually with limited debris unless a solids-handling model is selected. Basements, foundations, and other areas where groundwater or seepage collects. Commonly paired with a float switch for automatic operation when the water level rises.
Borehole / deep-well Clean groundwater with low suspended-solids content. Domestic, agricultural, and municipal water supply from drilled wells. A slim, multistage pump fits inside a borehole and develops the pressure needed to lift water from depth.
Fountain Clean, recirculated water with minimal suspended debris. Decorative fountains, water features, and small recirculating displays. Designed for submerged recirculation; flow rate and head determine the achievable display effect.
Axial-flow / mixed-flow Large volumes of relatively low-solids water. Flood control, drainage channels, irrigation, and water-level management. Moves high flow at comparatively low head; axial-flow designs move water mainly along the shaft, while mixed-flow designs combine axial and radial flow.

How to Choose the Right Type of Submersible Pump

What Are the Top 10 Types of Submersible Pumps?

How to Choose the Right Type of Submersible Pump

Choose by fluid, solids, flow rate, and required head—not by pump name alone. A clean-water well pump is a poor match for wastewater containing rags or grit. For sewage, look at solids-handling or grinder pumps; for muddy site water, consider a dewatering or slurry model. Borehole pumps suit deep, narrow wells, while axial- and mixed-flow pumps move large volumes at lower heads. Check the pump curve against your actual operating point. A small mismatch can mean weak discharge, overheating, or repeated clogging.

Installation conditions matter, too. Measure the vertical lift and pipe run, then account for bends and friction losses. Confirm the liquid’s temperature and chemistry against the pump’s materials and seals.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Improving Pumping System Performance sourcebook reports that pumping systems use nearly 20% of global electricity. Efficient sizing matters. Yet field conditions are rarely perfect; debris and changing water levels can complicate a neat calculation.

Tips: Record the liquid, expected solids size, flow, total head, and power supply before comparing models. Ask for a pump curve and solids-passage specification. If the duty changes seasonally, size for the real range—not just the best day. Recheck your assumptions after installation.

Blog Tags: