Water pumps have become essential devices for pumping water for irrigation in Kenya especially in high pressure irrigation methods. This article explores the wide range of pumps for irrigation, their specifications, prices and recommended options for your water needs.
Water Pumps for Irrigation in Kenya
Aqua Hub’s LTD pumps are in a wide range of portable fuel engines and solar pumps from different top leading brands in East Africa. Our Water pumps for irrigation are stocked at our offices in Nairobi and delivered on orders to clients in Kenya.
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Specifications of Water Pumps for Irrigation
Petrol Water Pumps
| Water Pump Brand | Pump size | Horsepower (Hp) | Head | Flow rate |
| Astra Milano | High pressure, 2” | 7.5 | 90m | 30m³ |
| Honda | Low pressure, 2” | 5.5 | 35m | 32m³ |
| Daishin | Low Pressure, 2” | 5.5 | 32m | 30m³ |
| Milano | Low Pressure, 2” | 5.5 | 28m | 28m³ |
| HISAKI | Low Pressure, 2” | 5.5 | 30m | 28m³ |
| AICO | High pressure, 2” | 7.5 | 75m | 20m³ |
Diesel Pumps
| Water Pump Brand | Specifications |
| Power Italia (Italy) | 85m Head, 48m3 flow rate, 14HP |
| Carltons (UK) | 85m Head, 40m3 flow rate, 14HP |
| Lifan (USA) | 81m Head, 41m3 flow rate, 16HP |
| AICO | 60m Head, 40m3 flow rate, 10HP |
| Lister | 65m Head, 100m3 flow rate, 30HP |
| AICO | 32m Head, 1.5m3, 1”, 1.5HP |
Solar Pumps
| Pump model | Duty | MOTOR POWER (kW) | Solar panel Capacity |
| DSD3/13 | 3m3/hr @65m | 0.75 | 9×200W |
| DSD3/18 | 3m3 /hr @90m | 1.1 | 9×200W |
| DSD3/30 | 3m3 /hr @150m | 2.2 | 10×350W |
| DSD5/10 | 5m3/hr @35m | 0.75 | 9×200W |
| DSD5/18 | 5m3/hr @65m | 1.5 | 10×350W |
| DSD5/24 | 5m3/hr @85 | 2.2 | 10×350W |
| DSD8/12 | 8m3/hr @ 48m | 1.5 | 10×350W |
| DSD8/17 | 8m3/hr @70m | 2.2 | 10×350W |
Types of Water Pumps for Irrigation in Kenya
Water pumps for irrigation in Kenya are different in types grouped according to their pressure rating, power source and mode of operation. `
Types of water Pumps according Pressure Rating
High pressure water pumps – these are pumps with high head often best for pushing water to long vertical heights. Often very expensive because of the high-end performance.
Low pressure pumps – pumps that have low head. They have heads below 50m and are often available at low cost.
Classification of Irrigation Pumps According to the Power source
Solar pumps – pumps that are powered using energy from the sun. Solar panels are used to tap sunlight, convert it to electricity to power the pump.
Electric water pumps – electric pumps use electric power to operate. They can either be single phase or 3 phase and use an electric motor.
Classification by Mode of Operation
Surface water pumps – involves pumps that work while mounted on the ground surface. Includes diesel and petrol engine pumps, solar and electric centrifugal pumps.
Submersible pumps – these are pumps that work while fully placed inside water. The design consists of narrow stainless steel body casing. Operate on solar or electric power and are suitable for drawing water from boreholes, underground tanks, deep lakes or rivers and wells.
Things that Matter when Choosing Water Pumps for Irrigation in Kenya
Power source – if you have no access to electricity, you either use fuel engine pumps or solar pumps. Solar pumps are expensive to buy but cost-effective to operate than diesel or petrol pumps.
Flow rate – flow rate is the amount of water a pump delivers per hour. The range of flow rates decides which pumps can match the water needs of your farm.
Crop type – crops are watered using varying irrigation methods. For instance, capsicum, tomato and onions are ideal for drip irrigation while sugarcane, maize and grass require sprinklers. Therefore, the water needs of your crops, guide you on the flow rate of the pump to consider.
Method of irrigation – the pressure needs of an irrigation system is the determining factor of what pump to buy. High pressure irrigation methods like rain gun sprinkler or overhead sprinkler will require a high horsepower rated pump than a butterfly sprinkler method.
Source of irrigation water – the depth of the water source narrows down the choice of water pumps to a specific pump head. If the source is a deep borehole, you need submersible pumps. On the other hand, for rivers, dams and shallow lakes, you will use a surface pump.
Size of the farm – the farm size determines which pump size suits you case. Large farms will require you to have a powerful and large pump that can deliver higher water flow rates.
Location – where is your farm or water source located? If you are in a remote place without grid power connection, you must choose a solar or fuel engine pump. Both are reliable but solar pumps are more cost-effective to use.
Which pump is best for Lawn Irrigation System?
The ideal pump to use in your lawn irrigation system will depend on your water source. If your source is from a tank or municipal water connection, you can use a booster pump. Booster pumps are popular types of centrifugal pumps for boosting the pressure in a water connection.
For a water source from a dam or river, self-priming centrifugal pumps are often used because of their long run time and efficiency. The centrifugal pumps are powered by electricity and easy to install.
