SUBMERSIBLE PUMP (SUMO) INSTALLATION PROCEDURE
Practically, it is not your job to install a sumo in your borehole rather your engineer does that for you. However, in the case that no experienced person is there to assist in the installation this post will provide simple procedures you can follow to install the pump.
Note that it is advisable to ask an experienced pump expert to come and cross-check the pump after installation to ensure everything was done properly though it may not immediately it may be a week or more depending on when you are able to get the person for the inspection.
This post will provide practical procedure you can use to install the pump and start pumping water pending when an engineer will be available to inspect your installation and ratify and mistake if there is any.
When handling submersible pumps, consider it to be a heavy-short-length metallic pipe with big diameter. As a pump with varying sizes in the market you may be dealing with either a small Sumo or a big one. Whichever one you are handling the installation procedure is the same.
The most difficult aspect of the installation procedure is to know the actual horse power you need for your borehole. The horse power will determine the size of the pump and may also determine the level of seriousness you will put in place when installing the Sumo.
FACTORS YOU MUST CONSIDER BEFORE INSTALLING A BOREHOLE SUBMERSIBLE PUMP (SUMO)
DEPTH OF BOREHOLE
The depth of the borehole matters a lot because it determines the horse power that can be able to pump water out considering the distance beneath the borehole to the water tank stand above the building height. If you install the wrong Sumo like lower horse power, there will be a possibility that your Sumo will not be able to deliver water to the tank. Though buying high horse power Sumo is costlier but to be on the safer part, you can choose to buy higher horse power than low horse power just to be certain that your water can be pumped to the water tanks directly from the borehole without any obstruction or delay.
SOIL TYPE
During the drilling of the borehole, it is important you try and understand the type of soil beneath the borehole especially when you have seen clean water coming out. If you inform the drillers to provide a sample of the soil to you it could be made available. In most cases, the soil is mainly sand soil however, yours may be be a different type of soil depending on your location. The soil type will enable you know the best way you can position the sumo during installation. It will help you to predict possible problem that could be associated with the borehole. For instance, some poorly-drilled boreholes with sandy soil beneath tend to fill up later thereby blocking the Sumo impeller from sucking water from the borehole. The only solution to such situation is to bring out the Sumo and re-drill the borehole to go more deep before reinstalling the Sumo.
VOLTAGE
The voltage usually supplied to your area will affect the efficiency of the Sumo. Some areas can be having frequent low voltage power supply which may not be suitable for the Sumo installed in the borehole thereby making it impossible to get water out of the borehole. If that will be the case in your area, look out for Sumo pumps designed to work effectively with low voltage provided their horsepower will be enough to pump water out of the borehole or alternatively you can opt for Solar panel powered Sumo pumps available in the market though they are very costly.
PLUMBING
Another thing to consider before installing the Sumo is the PVC pipes that will be connected to the discharge line of the pump. This connection will require a good knowledge of plumbing job. Hence, you may need a plumber if you do not have such knowledge.
SUSPENSION
There should be a suspending medium for the pump. The Sumo is not supposed to rest on the floor of the borehole, there should be a way of hanging it on the top of the borehole with either a wire or its cable or with the PVC pipe that will be connected to the discharge line. Whoever on that seems best, ensure that the Sumo does not go too deep inside the water zone of the borehole.
SECURITY
There are cases of Sumo pumps being stolen after installation in the borehole hence, it is very important to ensure that the borehole is in a secured area before installing your Sumo.
SUMO PUMP SIMPLE INSTALLATION PROCEDURES
- Ensure the borehole water zone is deep enough to avoid sand-fill-ups later.
- Prepare the floor of the borehole for the pump installation by putting concrete floor where it is necessary.
- Make all the piping materials ready and get a plumber to standby if you don’t have plumbing skill.
- Calculate the distance of the bore hole to the ground surface where you are standing.
- Use the distance obtained in the measurement to make the pipe connection for the discharge port of the pump and ensure the in-built cable length will be enough to go that far.
- Assuming you have already tested the Sumo on the ground surface to ensure its impeller is rotating very well, lower it into the with the PVC pipe connected to its discharge port.
- At the calculated or measured depth, the Sumo supposed to be in the water zone of the borehole but not resting on the floor of the borehole.
- Run a test of the Sumo by connecting the cable to electric power supply socket and turn the Switch ON.
- Watch and observe how long it took the pump to bring out water through the PVC pipe connected to the discharge port.
- Observe the neatness of the water coming out and allow the Sumo to run for about 1 hour this will enable the Sumo to pump out most of the dirty water in the borehole before the clean water will start coming out.
- If you have got clean water coming out and the Sumo is just few feet into the water zone while the remaining 70% feet in the water zone is the distance between the impeller of the Sumo and the floor of the borehole, then you are good to go!.
- Prepare for hanging and suspension of the sumo using either the PVC pipe, special rope tied on the Sumo or the Sumo cable (not recommended). After suspension or hanging, your Sumo can now be left alone.
- To prevent sand from falling into the borehole, it is also important that pipe guards were installed on your borehole after the drilling before installing the Sumo.
- Once everything has started working properly, always allow the water that will come out in the first 30 minutes to flow away before connecting your water tank pipe to it. The reason is to ensure that clean water has started coming out before sending the water to the water tank. To avoid staining the water tank with dirt from the borehole.
The mentioned simple procedures will guide you in installing any type of Submersible pump also known as Sumo in your borehole where there is no engineer or technician around to carry out the job.
