Borewell Pump Installation Guide (2026)

Counter team note

Written by the counter team at Multi Trade Combines — 35 years supplying NE workshops.

Before You Start: What You Need to Know About Your Borewell

A borewell submersible pump must be matched to the borewell in three ways:

Borewell diameter: Most 1–5 HP domestic/light commercial pumps require a 4-inch (100 mm) or 6-inch (150 mm) casing. Confirm your casing diameter before ordering the pump — a pump even 2 mm larger than the casing ID cannot be lowered.
Static and dynamic water level: The pump's total dynamic head (TDH) must exceed the dynamic water level plus friction losses. In Guwahati's alluvial plains, water tables are often 20–50 m; in Meghalaya hard rock terrain, borewells may exceed 120 m.
Required flow rate: A household needs 1–3 LPS; a small farm 3–8 LPS. Choose a pump whose curve delivers your required flow at your TDH.

Tools and Materials Checklist

Submersible pump + motor set	Kirloskar or equivalent; matched to borewell dia and TDH
Delivery pipe	HDPE PN10/PN16 or GI; length = borewell depth + 2 m above ground
Submersible cable	3-core copper, rated for submersible use; length = borewell depth + 5 m
Cable joint kit	Waterproof heat-shrink joints; never use regular electrical tape below water
Safety rope / polypropylene rope	For lowering and recovery; 8 mm minimum; length = depth
Clamps and pipe couplers	Stainless steel clamps for pipe-to-pump connection
Control panel / starter	DOL or star-delta starter rated for motor kW and full-load current
Delivery valve	Non-return valve (foot valve built into pump or separate check valve)
Earth electrode	GI pipe or copper rod; mandatory

Step-by-Step Installation

Inspect the borewell casing. Lower a torch and a calibrated rope to confirm the actual borewell depth and diameter at the point where you will set the pump. Remove any loose casing fragments or gravel that may have fallen in. The pump should be set 3–5 m above the borewell bottom to avoid drawing in silt.
Assemble the pump and motor. On a clean, flat surface (not bare ground — lay a sheet of plastic), connect the pump end to the motor using the coupling provided. Tighten the coupling screws to the manufacturer's torque specification. Hand-tighten and then use a torque wrench — under-tightened couplings vibrate loose underwater and destroy the impeller shaft.
Attach the delivery pipe. Screw the first length of delivery pipe into the pump outlet. Use PTFE tape on threads; tighten firmly. For HDPE pipe, use compression couplers. Clamp the pipe to the pump body with the stainless steel safety clamp provided — this carries the entire weight of the suspended water column, so it must be properly torqued.
Prepare the submersible cable. Run the cable alongside the delivery pipe and secure it with cable ties every 3 m. Never allow the cable to hang loose — it can catch on casing joints and be cut as the pump is lowered. Make the electrical connection at the motor terminals: match the colour codes (Red/Yellow/Blue for 3-phase; use continuity tester to verify before lowering).
Make waterproof cable joints if required. If the cable supplied with the motor is not long enough to reach the control panel, use only a proper submersible cable joint kit with heat-shrink sealant. Tape joints in a wet borewell fail within weeks.
Lower the pump assembly into the borewell. Two people minimum — one guiding the pump centrally into the casing, one handling the pipe above. Lower slowly, adding pipe sections as you go. Keep the rope tied to the pump handle at all times as a secondary safety if the clamp fails.
Set at the correct depth. Lower the pump until it is 3–5 m above the borewell bottom. Tie off the safety rope to a surface anchor or the borewell cap. Install the borewell cap, which centres the delivery pipe and prevents surface water and insects from entering.
Install the control panel and make electrical connections. This step must be done by a licensed electrician. Verify supply voltage (415 V ± 10 % for 3-phase; 230 V ± 6 % for single-phase), connect the starter, set the thermal overload relay to the motor's full-load current, and connect the earth from the motor cable to the panel earth bar and then to the earth electrode.
Commission and test. Switch on for 2–3 seconds only and check rotation direction (for 3-phase, reverse any two phases if flow is very low). Then run continuously, checking flow at the delivery outlet, motor body temperature (should not exceed 60 °C above ambient after 30 minutes), and voltage at the motor terminals under load (should not drop more than 5 % below no-load voltage). Record the running current against the motor nameplate FLA.
Install a pressure gauge and non-return valve on the surface delivery line. These protect the system from water hammer when the pump stops and allow you to monitor system pressure without pulling the pump.

Common Installation Mistakes in NE India

Northeast India's terrain presents specific challenges. Assam's alluvial belt has relatively shallow water tables but high sand content that silts pumps fast — set the pump high enough above the bottom. Meghalaya's hard-rock borewells have very limited yield in the dry season (December–March); size your pump for the minimum dry-season flow, not the monsoon maximum. In hill districts with no 3-phase supply, single-phase pumps up to 1.5 HP with capacitor starters are the practical option.

Frequently Asked Questions

What size pipe is needed for a borewell submersible pump?

Pipe sizing depends on flow rate and pump stage. For a 1–2 HP pump delivering 1–3 LPS, a 1-inch (25 mm) HDPE or GI delivery pipe is standard. For 3–5 HP pumps, use 1.5-inch (38 mm) pipe. Always consult the pump manufacturer's curve — pipe that is undersized increases friction loss and reduces effective head. In deep borewells (100 m+), HDPE pipe PN10 or PN16 is preferred over GI for weight reasons.

Can I install a submersible pump myself or do I need an electrician?

Mechanical installation (lowering the pump, connecting the delivery pipe) can be done by any competent person following the steps in this guide. However, the electrical connection — wiring from the control panel to the motor, and the panel itself — must be done by a licensed electrician in India under IE Rules. Never skip the earthing connection on the motor casing; submersible motor earthing faults in wet borewells are fatal.

Does Multi Trade Combines supply Kirloskar submersible pumps in Assam?

Yes. Multi Trade Combines on AT Road, Guwahati supplies Kirloskar submersible pumps with accessories for borewell installation across Assam and Northeast India. Call +91 91812 13332 or WhatsApp for model availability and delivery.

How to Install a Borewell Submersible Pump: Step-by-Step Guide for Northeast India