How Pump Head & Pressure Affect Bore Systems for Aussie Properties

If you’re using a bore to supply water on your Australian property, understanding how pump head and pressure affect your system is absolutely critical. Mis-calculating either means you’ll end up with poor flow, wasted electricity, or pump failure. In this blog you’ll learn about bore pump sizing Australia, how to size a bore pump, consult a bore pump size chart, determine what size bore pump do I need, assess bore depth flow rate, understand bore water pressure, decide on a progressive cavity water pump, follow a bore pump horsepower guide and use an Australian bore pump guide for reliable installation.

Why “bore pump sizing Australia” is foundational

On rural or semi-rural blocks in Australia, water isn’t always fed from mains pressure. You’re often dealing with a bore or drilled well, and the pump must overcome significant factors: static water level, dynamic draw-down, vertical lift, friction losses and required pressure at the outlet. If you ignore these, you’ll either undersupply your property or blow money on an oversized unit.

Key terms first: head and pressure

• Head: This is the vertical distance the pump needs to push water (and sometimes the depth it pulls from). In effect it’s the “height” of water travel, expressed in metres head.
  
  

• Pressure: The force at which the water is delivered (e.g., tank fill, house usage, irrigation). Pressure and head are directly related: higher required pressure = higher head.
  In Australia it’s common to calculate bore water systems in metres head rather than relying purely on “pressure” in psi, because many rural systems are custom-installed.
  
  

How head & pressure affect your bore system

1. Vertical lift and depth: The deeper the bore, or the further the water must travel up, the more head your pump must overcome. If you underestimate this, your pump will struggle or fail.
   
   

2. Friction losses: As water moves through pipes, bends, fittings and over long runs, you lose head (i.e. additional metres). Many Australian bore installers overlook this when sizing pumps.
   
   

3. Required outlet pressure: If you’re supplying irrigation, tanks, house usage, you’ll need a certain pressure. That translates into extra head the pump must create.
   
   

4. Flow rate vs head trade-off: Pumps have a performance curve: higher head means lower flow for a given pump. Conversely, if you demand high flow and high head, you need a bigger pump. This is core to “what size bore pump do I need”.
   
   

5. Pump yield vs bore yield mismatch: If the bore’s ability to supply water (flow) is less than what the pump demands under that head, you’ll cause draw-down, cavitation or risk drying the bore. Australian bore pump guides emphasise matching pump capacity to bore yield.
   
   

Step-by-step: How to size a bore pump with head & pressure in mind

Step 1: Determine your required flow rate

Ask: How many litres per minute or per hour do I need for household, irrigation, stock? This guides your pump flow selection (L/min). Australian standards often express yield in litres/minute for bores. 

Step 2: Measure your bore depth, static and dynamic water level

• Static water level: depth of water when pump off.
  
  

• Dynamic (pumping) level: depth when pump is running.
  The difference (draw-down) affects the head and system design. Australian bore specialists emphasise testing the bore before final pump sizing.
  
  

Step 3: Calculate total head (metres head) required

Total head = vertical lift (from water level to delivery point) + friction losses in pipe + required outlet pressure converted to head. For example, if your bore pump needs to push water 30 m vertically, your pipe losses add 5 m, and you want a delivery pressure equivalent of 10 m head, you’re sizing for ~45 m head. American sources show the same logic but you adapt units to metric for Australia. 

Step 4: Use the bore pump size chart or horsepower guide

With required flow and head known, consult manufacturer curves or size charts (“bore pump size chart”) to select a pump that meets or slightly exceeds both the flow rate and head. Oversizing leads to inefficiency, undersizing leads to poor system performance.

Step 5: Select appropriate pump type (including progressive cavity water pump if needed)

For bores with challenging conditions (variable yield, sand/silt, irregular flows), you might consider a progressive cavity water pump. For standard good yield bores, a submersible or surface pump will suffice depending on head and depth. Use an Australian bore pump guide to decide on type. 

Step 6: Consider power/horsepower requirements (bore pump horsepower guide)

Pumps with high head or flow often need more horsepower (kW). Make sure your power supply (single phase or three phase) matches the pump. Oversized motors waste power and risk short cycling; undersized motors will overload.

Common questions from Aussie property owners

1. How do I know what total metres head my bore system requires?
   
   

2. Can I run a high-flow pump even if my head is large?
   
   

3. What happens if my bore yield drops below the pump’s capacity under head?
   
   

4. When should I consider a progressive cavity water pump for my bore instead of a standard submersible?
   
   

5. Does pump horsepower directly correlate to flow and pressure for bore water systems in Australia?
   
   

Answering those questions

1. Determining total metres head: You measure vertical lift (static or dynamic water level to outlet), add friction losses (pipe length, diameter, fittings) then add equivalent head for required outlet pressure.
2. Running a high-flow pump with large head: If you use a pump that can deliver high flow, but head is large and the pump unable to handle it, flow drops significantly. Use the size chart to ensure the pump curve crosses your required point.
3. Bore yield drops below pump capacity under head: This means your pump will outpace the bore’s supply, leading to draw-down, possible damage, pump cavitation or system failure. Always match pump capacity to bore yield.
4. When to use a progressive cavity water pump: If your bore has low yield, variable conditions, silt/sand intrusion or demand fluctuates, a progressive cavity pump handles the irregular flow and pressure demands better than standard centrifugal models. Use this when standard solutions struggle.
5. Horsepower correlation: Yes, horsepower (or kW) matters, because overcome large head and high flow demands more power. But it isn’t the only measure pump efficiency, pump curve matching and system design matter just as much.

Australian-specific considerations

• Many Australian rural properties have bores that go deep or have variable aquifer yield: be realistic about head and draw-down.
  
  

• In remote areas power supply may be weaker or single phase only match pump motor accordingly.
  
  

• Ensure the pump and installation provider understand Australian bore conditions (sand, silt, corrosion, yield drop) and use a reputable guide or installer.
  
  

• In Australia, metric units are used (litres, metres head) rather than US/UK imperial units. Use metres head and litres/minute or litres/hour.
  
  

Summary: How pump head & pressure should guide your bore system

• You must calculate your required flow rate and total head (vertical lift + friction + pressure).
  

• Consult a bore pump size chart and horsepower guide to pick a pump that meets those specs without oversizing.
  

• Pressure isn’t just “how hard the tap flows” it’s a key part of head calculation.
  

• Match pump capacity to bore yield and system head; avoid the trap of “bigger is better”.
  

• Consider progressive cavity water pumps when conditions demand it.
  

• Use an Australian bore pump guide, always.
   If you’d like a tailored sizing worksheet for your property or help choosing the right pump type, contact us through Pumptastic and our team can work through your site-specific numbers.
  

• Visit Pumptastic to explore our services: Pumptastic

• For direct enquiries: Contact us