Pumps & Irrigation

Pumps & Irrigation buying guide

Veldkraft lists 2 641 pumps & irrigation, priced from R1 to R116 065, from brands including K-brand, Emjay, Torrenti, Vetplast. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Find the right sub-category first

This department covers everything to lift, move, store and apply water. Choose a water pump from Water and Pressure Pumps, Borehole Pumps, Submersible Turbine Pumps or Circulator Pumps. Pipes, Valves and Irrigation Accessories, Hose Reels and Irrigation Controllers and Timers handle distribution. Water Tanks, Water Filters and Purification, Hydroponics and Pump Spares, Controls and Accessories complete the system. Brands include JoJo, Dab, Rain Bird, Cascade, Torrenti, Vetplast and Turner Morris.

Surface, borehole or submersible pump?

Where the water sits decides the pump. Surface pumps in Water and Pressure Pumps stand beside a tank, dam or river and draw water by suction, which limits them to shallow sources. Borehole pumps go down inside the borehole casing and push water up from depth. Submersible turbine pumps also work fully under water, so compare their diameter, flow and head with your source. Circulator pumps instead move water around a closed loop, such as a hot-water circuit.

Size any pump by head, flow and power

Every pump choice starts with three figures. Total head is the vertical lift from the water level to the highest outlet, plus pipe friction and the pressure you want at the end, with one bar equal to about 10 metres. Flow is the volume needed at once, in litres per minute or cubic metres per hour. The power supply is either 230 V single-phase or 400 V three-phase, and the motor must match it. Check all three against the maker's pump curve.

Pipes, hose, valves and fittings

Choose pipe and fittings by diameter and pressure class. Pipes carry water from pump to tank or field, and larger diameters lose less pressure to friction over long runs. Valves and Irrigation Accessories is the largest sub-category, with ball, check, foot and butterfly valves, insert fittings and brass couplings. Suction hose is made to resist collapsing under a pump's suction, while multipurpose hose and hose reels suit general watering and washing.

Sprinklers, drip tape or a timer?

Pick the irrigation method by crop and water supply. Sprays and micro sprinklers wet an area and suit lawns, orchards and tunnels. Drip tape, such as 16 mm tape in 2300 m rolls, puts water along the row at the root zone of vegetables and other row crops at low pressure. Irrigation Controllers and Timers run watering on a schedule, and the Hydroponics sub-category covers growing without soil.

Storing and treating water

Plan storage and treatment around how the water will be used. Water Tanks, including JoJo tanks, hold borehole, municipal or rainwater as a buffer, so a borehole pump can fill them slowly and a booster pump can supply the house. Water Filters and Purification includes in-line UV sterilisers, which treat clear water only, so place one after a filter in the line.

Pumps & Irrigation: common questions

What is the difference between a borehole pump and a submersible pump?

A borehole pump is a submersible pump made slim enough to fit inside a borehole casing and push water up from depth. Submersible is the wider term for any pump that works under water, including drainage and turbine pumps. For a borehole, measure the casing diameter, the depth to the water level and the tested yield before choosing a model.

What size borehole pump do I need?

Base it on the borehole's tested yield, the depth to the pumping water level, the height to your tank and the casing diameter. The pump's flow must not exceed the yield, or the water level drops to the pump and it runs dry. Total head is the pumping depth plus the delivery height and pipe friction.

How much do pumps and irrigation supplies cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 2 641 pump and irrigation products priced from R1 to R116 065. Washers, plugs and small insert fittings make up the low end, while the largest pumps sit at the top. Price rises with motor power, pipe diameter, brass or cast iron instead of plastic, tank capacity and pack size.

Can I run a water pump straight from a tank?

Yes. A surface pump fed from the outlet near the base of a tank is a common way to supply a house or garden, because water flows to the pump without a suction lift. A booster pump with a flow controller then gives steady pressure on demand. Tank and pump combos pair the two.

Do you deliver pumps and irrigation products outside South Africa?

Yes. Veldkraft is an online store that ships orders by courier or road freight to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini. Payment is by EFT. Collection is not available. Questions about a listing can go to info@veldkraft.co.za or the contact page.

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