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There is no single company that makes the best irrigation pump for every system. The right manufacturer depends on where the water comes from, how far it must move, how much pressure the irrigation system needs, and how the pump will be powered.
For most homeowners and small farms, Berkeley, Goulds Water Technology, Franklin Electric, Grundfos, and DAB are worth considering. All make pumps or pumping systems intended for irrigation, water transfer, wells, pressure boosting, or similar clean-water jobs.
The important part is choosing the right type and size of pump rather than choosing by brand name alone.
Which Companies Make Good Irrigation Pumps?
Berkeley
Berkeley is a Pentair brand with a long focus on agricultural irrigation and water movement. Its irrigation range includes centrifugal pumps, self-priming pumps, submersible turbine pumps, and vertical turbine pumps.
Berkeley is especially relevant when you need to move a lot of water for:
- Large sprinkler systems
- Farms and acreage
- Ponds and reservoirs
- Wells
- Long irrigation mains
- High-flow water transfer
This range makes Berkeley a strong manufacturer to consider for larger irrigation systems where a basic garden pump would be too small.
For a homeowner moving rainwater from an IBC tote or small cistern, much of the Berkeley agricultural range may be more pump than the system needs.
Goulds Water Technology
Goulds Water Technology is a Xylem brand. Its current range covers centrifugal pumps, jet pumps, pressure boosters, submersible well pumps, turbine pumps, controls, and related water-system equipment. Xylem also lists agricultural applications among the markets served by the brand.
Goulds is a useful brand to consider when the water source could be:
- A shallow well
- A deeper well
- A storage tank
- A pond or similar source
- A pressurized water system
The broad range can also be useful when the pump is only one part of a larger system involving pressure tanks, controls, or well equipment.
Franklin Electric
Franklin Electric is particularly strong in groundwater and agricultural irrigation.
Its agricultural irrigation systems include pumps, motors, drives, and controls designed to operate together. Franklin specifically addresses irrigation problems such as deep wells, abrasive water, variable pumping requirements, and energy use.
That makes Franklin worth considering for:
- Irrigation wells
- Deep groundwater sources
- Agricultural systems
- Systems using variable-speed controls
- Installations where the pump, motor, and controls need to be matched as a system
For a simple rain barrel feeding a few garden lines, this type of equipment may be unnecessary. Franklin becomes more relevant as the pumping system gets larger or more complex.
Grundfos
Grundfos makes pumps for agricultural irrigation, groundwater pumping, pressure boosting, sprinkler irrigation, and drip irrigation.
Its irrigation materials cover both pump selection and complete system design. Grundfos lists its CR-series multistage pumps for field, sprinkler, and drip irrigation, while its SP submersible range is used for groundwater supply and irrigation.
Grundfos is especially worth looking at when you need:
- Stable irrigation pressure
- Variable flow
- Pressure boosting
- A submersible well pump
- Variable-speed operation
- Automated pump controls
Variable-speed pumps can be useful when irrigation demand changes. For example, one sprinkler zone may use much less water than another. A properly designed variable-speed system can adjust pump output rather than always running at full output.
DAB
DAB makes both residential and agricultural water pumps. The company specifically lists irrigation, gardening, rainwater use, water boosting, wells, tanks, and cisterns among its applications.
Its range includes surface centrifugal pumps, pressure systems, and submersible pumps.
DAB can therefore be particularly relevant to smaller systems such as:
- Garden irrigation
- Rainwater cisterns
- Underground tanks
- Household landscape irrigation
- Pressure boosting
- Small wells
For a homeowner building a rainwater irrigation system, this combination of tank, cistern, garden, and irrigation applications can make DAB worth comparing with Grundfos and Goulds.
The Best Manufacturer Depends on Your Water Source
The water source often determines the pump type before the brand matters.
Rain Barrel
A rain barrel usually does not need a large irrigation pump.
If gravity provides enough flow for a short drip line, adding a pump may not be necessary at all. A barrel raised above the garden creates some pressure, although much less than a normal household water supply.
If you do need a pump, look for a small clean-water pump that matches the irrigation system's required flow and pressure.
Do not install a large agricultural pump just because it has a higher horsepower rating.
IBC Tote or Above-Ground Tank
A surface pump can work well with an above-ground tank, especially when the pump inlet can remain flooded.
"Flooded" means water can naturally flow from the tank into the pump inlet.
This makes pump starting easier because the pump does not have to lift water up the suction pipe.
Common choices include:
- Centrifugal pumps
- Multistage pumps
- Automatic booster pumps
The tank outlet, pipe diameter, pump inlet, filter, and irrigation line all need to work together.
Underground Cistern
A submersible pump is often convenient for an underground rainwater cistern because the pump sits in the water.
This removes many suction-lift and priming problems found with surface pumps.
A multistage submersible pump can also create enough pressure for sprinklers or longer irrigation lines.
The pump still needs protection from sediment. Roof runoff can carry grit and organic material into storage even when gutters and screens are installed.
Well
Well depth changes the decision significantly.
Shallow wells may use jet or surface pumps. Deeper wells normally require a submersible well pump.
Franklin Electric, Grundfos, Goulds Water Technology, DAB, and Berkeley all offer equipment for groundwater or well applications in at least part of their ranges.
A well pump should be sized using the well conditions as well as irrigation demand. Do not choose one based only on horsepower.
Do Not Choose an Irrigation Pump by Horsepower Alone
Horsepower tells you about the motor. It does not tell you how much useful water the pump will deliver to your sprinklers.
Two pumps with similar motors can have very different performance.
The main numbers to compare are flow rate and head.
Flow Rate
Flow rate is how much water the pump moves over time.
In the United States, irrigation systems commonly express this in gallons per minute, or GPM.
Suppose one irrigation zone needs 8 GPM. Your pump must be able to supply roughly that flow while also producing the required pressure.
It is not enough for the pump specification to say that it can produce 20 GPM under ideal conditions. You need to check what it produces at the pressure your system actually requires.
Head Height
Head describes how much resistance the pump must overcome.
Details about choosing a manufacturer for a household pump help assess vertical lift limits with appropriate motor protection.
It includes more than vertical lift.
The pump may have to overcome:
- Elevation
- Pipe friction
- Filters
- Valves
- Fittings
- Irrigation equipment
- Required outlet pressure
This combined requirement is often called total dynamic head.
The farther and higher you move the water, the harder the pump must work.
Read the Pump Curve
A pump curve shows the relationship between flow and head.
As the required head increases, available flow usually decreases.
This curve is much more useful for irrigation sizing than the horsepower printed on the motor.
Choose a pump that can provide your required flow at your actual total head.
Sprinklers and Drip Irrigation Need Different Pumps
Sprinklers usually need more pressure than simple drip irrigation.
That means a pump that works perfectly for drip lines may perform poorly with sprinklers.
A small drip system may need modest flow and pressure. A system running several large sprinklers at once may require much more of both.
Before selecting a pump, determine the requirements of the largest irrigation zone you plan to run at one time.
Do not add together every sprinkler on the property if the system is divided into zones that operate separately.
Pump Inlet Size and Pipe Size Matter
Installing a good pump with undersized plumbing can still produce poor results.
A restrictive suction line can cause:
- Reduced flow
- Poor priming
- Noise
- Cavitation
- Unstable operation
- Pump damage
Cavitation happens when pressure becomes so low inside the pump that vapor bubbles form and collapse. It can reduce performance and damage pump parts.
Follow the pump manufacturer's inlet requirements.
Avoid reducing the suction pipe simply because your tank happens to have a small outlet fitting.
An IBC tote with a restrictive adapter, several small fittings, and a fine filter can limit water entering the pump even when the pump itself is capable of much higher flow.
Rainwater Pumps Need Sediment Protection
Rainwater irrigation pumps should not be expected to handle everything that enters a storage tank.
Roof runoff can carry:
- Grit
- Leaves
- Organic debris
- Roofing particles
- Insects
- Sediment
Screens and suitable prefiltration help keep debris out of storage. A first-flush device may also divert some of the initial roof runoff, which can contain more accumulated debris.
Inside a cistern, consider drawing water above the bottom sediment layer rather than placing the intake directly on the tank floor.
The correct arrangement depends on the pump.
Some submersible pumps require specific water levels or cooling conditions, so follow the manufacturer's installation instructions.
Dry-Run Protection Is Worth Having
An irrigation pump can be damaged if it continues running after the water source is empty.
This matters with rainwater systems because tank levels change with rainfall and irrigation use.
Dry-run protection shuts down or protects the pump when there is not enough water available.
It may be built into the pump or added through:
- A float switch
- A tank-level sensor
- A pump controller
- Other compatible controls
Check exactly how the protection works rather than assuming an automatic pump has dry-run protection.
Think About Local Parts and Service
The best manufacturer on paper may not be the best choice where you live.
Pumps contain parts that eventually require inspection or replacement. Motors, seals, capacitors, controllers, pressure sensors, and other components can fail.
Before choosing a brand, check whether you can get:
- Replacement parts
- Technical documentation
- Local dealer support
- Compatible controls
- Repair service
This becomes especially important with well pumps and larger irrigation systems. Pulling a deep submersible pump because an incompatible motor or control was installed can turn a simple equipment problem into a much larger job.
Which Irrigation Pump Manufacturer Should You Choose?
For a small rainwater garden system, focus first on a correctly sized clean-water pump. DAB, Grundfos, and Goulds all make equipment relevant to residential water movement and pressure systems.
For a well irrigation system, Franklin Electric, Grundfos, Goulds, Berkeley, and DAB all have relevant groundwater equipment. The well depth, required flow, motor, electrical supply, and controls should guide the choice.
For larger agricultural irrigation, Berkeley and Franklin Electric have particularly strong dedicated agricultural offerings, while Goulds and Grundfos also provide extensive irrigation and high-flow pumping systems.
For a cistern feeding sprinklers, a properly sized submersible multistage or pressure-boosting pump is often easier to live with than an oversized agricultural pump.
In every case, choose the pump from the system requirements first and the manufacturer second.
A correctly sized pump from a reputable company is generally a better choice than a larger or more powerful pump that does not match the irrigation system.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best irrigation pump brand?
There is no single best brand for every irrigation system. Berkeley, Goulds Water Technology, Franklin Electric, Grundfos, and DAB all make irrigation-related pumps. The best choice depends on your water source, required flow, pressure, power supply, and local service support.
What type of pump is best for a rainwater tank?
For an underground cistern, a clean-water submersible multistage pump is often convenient. An above-ground tank may work well with a surface centrifugal or booster pump. The pump must be sized for the irrigation system's required flow and pressure.
What size pump do I need for irrigation?
Determine the flow required by the largest irrigation zone and the total head the pump must overcome. Then use the manufacturer's pump curve to find a pump that can provide that flow at the required head. Do not size the pump from horsepower alone.
Is a bigger irrigation pump better?
No. An oversized pump can create excessive pressure, use unnecessary electricity, cycle improperly, and require additional pressure-control equipment. The pump should be matched to the irrigation system rather than simply being as large as possible.
Can I use a well pump for rainwater irrigation?
Sometimes. A submersible clean-water pump designed for suitable tank or cistern installation may work well, but not every well pump is designed for every tank installation. Check minimum water levels, cooling requirements, installation position, controls, and manufacturer instructions.
Do I need a pressure tank with an irrigation pump?
Not always. Some systems use pressure tanks, while others use pump controllers or variable-speed pumps. A pressure tank can reduce frequent starting in certain systems, but the correct control arrangement depends on the pump and irrigation setup.
Should an irrigation pump have dry-run protection?
Dry-run protection is strongly recommended when the water supply can run low, especially with rainwater tanks and cisterns. It helps protect the pump when the available water falls below a safe operating level.
