Start with your water source, then how deep the water is, then how high it has to go. The total lift is the depth plus the height above ground, not the depth alone. Water quality then decides the material.
| Water source | Your situation | Pump we recommend |
|---|---|---|
| Borewell | Up to 100 ft | 1 HP jet pump. 1.5 HP for 4 floors or more. |
| Borewell | 100-300 ft | 1 HP submersible. 1.5 HP for 4 floors or more. |
| Borewell | 300 ft and above | 1.5 HP submersible. 2 HP for 4 floors or more. |
| Open well | Up to 25 ft | 0.5 HP self-priming monoblock |
| Open well | Above 25 ft | 1 HP open well submersible |
| Sump to overhead tank | 1-2 floors | 1 HP monoblock |
| Sump to overhead tank | 3 floors | 1.5 HP self-priming monoblock |
| Apartment | 4-5 floors, 8-15 units | 3 HP monoblock, usually three phase |
| Apartment or commercial | 6 or more floors, 16 or more units | 5 HP monoblock, three phase |
| Metro water | Low pressure inside the home | 1 HP pressure booster |
Salty or iron-rich water can destroy a standard cast iron impeller within months, so ask for corrosion-resistant parts. For a borewell of 100-300 ft, use 1.5 HP, or 2 HP for 4 floors or more. For a borewell of 300 ft and above, use 2 HP.
If you do not know your depth, your area gives a starting estimate. Check it with your borewell contractor or a neighbour before you buy.
| Area | Examples | Starting estimate |
|---|---|---|
| North Chennai | Parrys, Royapuram, Tondiarpet, Tiruvottiyur | Up to 100 ft |
| Central Chennai | T.Nagar, Nungambakkam, Egmore, Mylapore | 100-300 ft |
| West Chennai | Anna Nagar, Valasaravakkam, Virugambakkam | 100-300 ft |
| South Chennai | Velachery, Tambaram, Selaiyur, Chromepet | 300 ft and above |
| Suburbs | Ambattur, Avadi, OMR, Poonamallee | 100-300 ft |
| Job | Pump we recommend |
|---|---|
| Flooded sump or basement | 1 HP dewatering pump |
| Sewage or waste water | 0.5 HP submersible waste water pump |
| Building site or muddy water | 0.5 HP construction dewatering pump, or 1 HP for deeper digs |
| Large volume, fast | 3 HP dewatering pump, usually three phase |
Allow 135 litres of water per person per day. For an overhead tank, buy about 1.5 times the daily need, so the house does not run dry when supply is late.
| People at home | Overhead tank |
|---|---|
| 1-2 people | 500 litres |
| 3-4 people | 1000 litres |
| 5-6 people | 1500 litres |
| 7 or more people | 2000 litres or larger |
Porul Store by Raja Industrials has supplied water tanks and pumps to Chennai since 1984. We are authorised distributors for Sintex, Vectus, Texmo and Aquatex.
No 10, (26), Errabalu Chetty Street, Parrys, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600001. Phone +91 44 2522 3260.