How to Choose a Solar Water Pump？
In agricultural irrigation, livestock farming, and water supply for remote areas, solar water pumps are becoming increasingly popular.They do not require grid electricity, do not rely on diesel fuel, and have extremely low operating costs. These advantages make solar pump systems a must-have solution in many off-grid and rural regions.
However, the reality is this:most first-time buyers choose the wrong solar pump.Common problems include:
❌The pump cannot lift water
❌ The flow rate is too low
❌ The system is expensive but inefficient
❌ The pump fails after a short period of use
The problem is usually not the product quality —it is the pump selection process itself.
This article is written from a buyer’s perspective and will guide you step by step on how to choose a solar water pump that truly matches your application scenario.
Let’s get started.
Step 1: Clearly Define Your Industry and Application Scenario
Before choosing any solar pump, ask yourself one key question: What exactly will this solar water pump be used for?
Below are the most common application scenarios:
2. Livestock & Pasture Water Supply---Drinking water for cattle, sheep, goats, horses/Fixed livestock watering points/Mobile or remote grazing areas without electricity
3. Aquaculture---Fish ponds and shrimp ponds/Water circulation and oxygenation/Inland aquaculture bases
4. Domestic Water Supply---Centralized well water supply/Mountainous or off-grid villages
5. Industrial & Commercial Water Use---Small factory cooling systems/Mining sites, brick factories, construction sites
Once your application is clear, you can move to the next critical step.
Step 2: What Information Do You Need to Choose the Right Solar Pump?
Different application scenarios require different parameters.Below, we use agricultural irrigation and livestock & pasture water supply as practical examples.
（一）If you are using it for agricultural irrigation, our goal is to ensure a stable water supply to crops, improve irrigation efficiency, and reduce agricultural water costs. You will need accurate data on the following three points.
1. Irrigation Area
The larger the irrigation area, the higher the water demand.Usually calculated based on once-daily irrigation.
| Irrigation area | Daily water demand | Converted flow | Maximum flow rate of water pump |
| 0.03–0.67 ha | 5-200m³/day | 1–30 m³/h | 1-30m³/h |
| 1.3–6.7 ha | 200–2000 m³/day | 25-150m³/h | 25-150m³/h |
| 13–67 ha | 2000-20000m³/day | Multiple parallel or industrial/commercial water pumps | >200m³/h |
2. Total Dynamic Head (TDH)
The head is the horizontal or vertical distance water travels from its intake point to the pump and then to the irrigation site. This includes pipe losses caused by factors such as valves, pipe bends, and ground friction. Determining the head determines the pump model and power.
Once the head is determined, the pump model and power are essentially decided.Based on a common flow rate of 30-80 cubic meters per hour.
| Total head（M） | Common power（KW） |
| 10-15 | 0.55-0.75 |
| 20-25 | 0.75-1.1 |
| 30-35 | 1.1-1.5 |
| 40-45 | 1.5-2.2 |
| 50-55 | 2.2-3 |
3.Water Source Conditions
Water source conditions include water quality and well depth. Different water qualities determine the type of water pump material used. Different well depths determine the type of water pump used.
| well deep | water quality | Water pump type | Recommended materials |
| <8M | Clear water | ground pump | cast iron |
| <8M | Sand | ground pump | Stainless steel + filter screen |
| 10-30m | Clear water | submersible pump | Stainless steel |
| 10-30m | Sand | submersible pump | Stainless steel + brass |
| 30-100m | Clear water | Deep well pump | Stainless steel |
| 30-100m | Salt and alkali | Deep well pump | Stainless steel |
| >100M | Any | Industrial pumps | custom made |
Practical Example----Sahel Region (Africa)
Using Allawa Village as an example:
Average irrigation area per person: 0.03ha
Daily water demand: 6 m³/day
Required pump flow rate: ≈1 m³/h
Total head: 12 m
Power requirement: 0.55–0.75 kW
Water type: clean water
Well depth: < 8 m
Recommended solution:3LDG Series Solar Submersible Pump
This 12V solar submersible water pump delivers a maximum flow rate of 0.5 m³/h and a maximum head of 28 meters, with a rated power of 80W, making it an efficient and reliable solution for agricultural irrigation, livestock watering, and domestic water supply in off-grid and remote areas. The pump is equipped with an advanced MPPT DC controller, which maximizes solar energy utilization and ensures stable operation under varying sunlight conditions.
Designed for durability and high performance, the pump features a high-precision AISI 304 stainless steel screw, an AISI 304 stainless steel oil chamber and pump casing, providing excellent corrosion resistance and long service life. Powered by a high-efficiency brushless PMSM motor (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor), the system significantly improves energy efficiency, starting performance, and overall pumping reliability. This solar water pump is ideal for small-scale irrigation systems, livestock farms, and household water supply applications where grid power is unavailable or unstable.
（二）If your application is for livestock and ranch water supply using a solar water pump system, aiming to deliver a stable and reliable drinking water supply for cattle, sheep, horses, and other livestock, and to meet the off-grid water supply needs of remote pastoral areas without electricity, then low maintenance requirements, low operating costs, and long service life performance are critical.You will need accurate data on the following three points.
1.Daily Water Consumption
Approximately how much water do your livestock need per day? Here's a reference for you.
| livestock species | Average daily water consumption (per head) |
| Cattle (adult cattle) | 50-100L |
| Cow (lactating period) | 80-150L |
| sheep | 40-10L |
| horse | 30-70L |
Reference Example:
50 cattle × 50 L/day = 2500 L
30 sheep × 40 L/day = 1200 L
Total daily water demand≈ 3400 L/day (3.5 m³/day)This is the first key number for pump selection.However, livestock water use is not evenly distributed; they mainly drink water in the early morning and evening. Therefore, we also need to know the peak water demand .
For example: Your ranch has a very high water demand between 6:00 and 8:00.
As mentioned above, it needs about 3.5 cubic meters of water per day, but at least 2 cubic meters are needed in these two hours.
2 m³needed within 2 hours
Required flow: 1 m³/h
If the pump runs 6 hours per day:
3.5 m³ ÷ 6 h = 0.58 m³/h
With safety margin → 0.6–1.0 m³/h
2.Total Head Calculation
Incorrect head calculation = pump failure or very low efficiency
Total Head = Static Head + Pipe Loss + Outlet Pressure.Static head is the horizontal distance or vertical height from the water source surface to the outlet point. Pipeline losses are the resistance losses caused by length, bends, and pipe diameter. Outlet pressure is generally the pressure generated by gravity-fed water supply. The size and location of centralized water sources vary from ranch to ranch, so actual measurements are the primary basis.
Here is a reference (for livestock and ranch water supply, the mainstream head is concentrated between 20–80m, with 40–70m being the most common).
| Livestock Species | Water Source Distance | Pipeline | Recommended Pump Head |
| Cattle/Horse | Deep Well 30-60m | 200-500m | 40-70m |
| Sheep/Goats | Shallow/Medium/Surface Water | Longer | 20-50m |
| Camels/Centralized Water Supply Grazing Point | Elevated Water Tank | / | 50-80m |
3. Understand Your Water Source Type
What is your water source? We offer the following options:
| Water Source Type | Water Quality Characteristics | Application Scenarios | Recommended Pump Type | Recommended Material |
| Deep Well Water （>30m） | Clean water/low sediment | cattle and sheep pastures/centralized drinking water | Deep well submersible pump | 304 stainless steel |
| Shallow Well Water（<20M） | Clean water | small ranch | DC submersible pump/centrifugal pump | 304 stainless steel |
| Deep Well Water （>30m）） | Heavy sediment/mineral-containing | Drilling new wells | Deep well submersible pump | 316 stainless steel |
| Shallow Well Water（<20M） | Trace amount of sediment | Unstable wellbore | submersible pump | Stainless steel + engineering plastics |
| River/Lake | Contains silt/minor impurities | Centralized water supply for ranches | High flow centrifugal pump | Cast iron/stainless steel |
| pond water | High algae | Centralized water supply for ranches in tropical regions | Submersible pump + filter | Stainless steel |
| Rainwater harvesting pond | Clean water | Small ranches in areas without electricity | DC solar submersible pump | Stainless steel |
Practical Livestock Example：
50 cattle + 30 sheep
Pump operating time: 6 hours/day
Required head: 20 m
Recommended pump parameters:
Max flow rate: 0.8 m³/h
Max head: 24 m
This is a solar-powered DC water pump system that can be directly powered by solar panels, requiring no power grid or diesel fuel; it's plug-and-play.
The system consists of a solar panel, an MPPT controller, a water pump, and water level/float protection. It automatically pumps water during the day when there is sunshine.
This water pump can draw water from wells, ponds, or rivers and deliver it to water towers, tanks, or irrigation pipelines. It is suitable for agricultural irrigation, livestock drinking water, and domestic water supply in remote areas.
The product supports multiple power and head options, operates stably, and is easy to maintain, making it particularly suitable for long-term use in areas without electricity or with unstable power supply.
Step 3: Contact Us
These are the two simplest methods for selecting water pumps for different application scenarios. Of course, the photovoltaic panels and controllers configured for water pumps of different power and models are also different. The Green Power team is dedicated to researching solar water pump systems. Whether it is a land pump or a submersible pump, whether it is a domestic water pump or an industrial or commercial water pump, as long as you write to us, we can quickly customize a suitable solar water pump system solution for you. What are you waiting for?
Website:www.fgreenpv.com
Email:Info@fgreenpv.com
WhatsApp:+86 17311228539
Post time: Jan-23-2026
