APPLICATIONS · BOREHOLES
Pipe for boreholes and livestock water
Delivery lines from the borehole to the tank, and long runs to troughs, with the pump to match.
PUMP · RISING MAIN · DELIVERY LINE
From the borehole to the trough, from one supplier.OVERVIEW
What the job needs
A borehole system lifts water from the pump in the hole to a tank, and from there to troughs, houses or fields. The pipe has to carry the pump's full pressure, often over long distances across open country.
HDPE pressure pipe is made for this kind of run: it comes in coils, so long lines go in with few joints, it is light enough to lay by hand, and it follows the ground.
WHAT MATTERS WHEN CHOOSING
- Add up the headTotal head is the lift from the water level to the top of the tank, plus friction losses along the pipe. Convert it to pressure: 10 m of water is about 1 bar.
- Rate the pipe for the pumpThe class must exceed the highest pressure the pump can produce, including against a closed valve and during surge, not just the normal running pressure.
- The bottom sees the mostPressure is highest at the pump end of the line, so the first lengths need the full rating.
- Long runs to troughsCoils mean fewer joints over long rural distances, and fewer places for leaks.
AT A GLANCE
HDPE classes and the head they're rated for
| CLASS | WORKING PRESSURE | HEAD AT 20 °C | SIZES WE MAKE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class 6 | 6 bar | ≈ 61 m | 32–110 mm |
| Class 10 | 10 bar | ≈ 102 m | 20–110 mm |
| Class 12 | 12 bar | ≈ 122 m | 20–110 mm |
| Class 16 | 16 bar | ≈ 163 m | 20–110 mm |
| Class 20 | 20 bar | ≈ 204 m | 20–110 mm |
Certified HDPE range (PE100, SANS 4427-2). Ratings are at 20 °C.
A pump set 60 m down feeds a tank standing 6 m high. The static head is about 66 m, roughly 6.5 bar, before friction and surge. Class 6 pipe (about 60 m) is too low; Class 10 (about 100 m) gives a margin, provided the pump's maximum pressure stays below it. Check against the pump's curve, or ask us.
RECOMMENDED PIPE
Pipelink pipe for this job
What size HDPE pipe do I need for my borehole?
It depends on the pump's flow and the length of the run. Send us the pump details, the depth and the distance to the tank and we'll size the pipe.
What class of pipe for a borehole?
One whose rating is above the highest pressure the pump can produce, including surge. As a rough guide, each class is rated for about ten times its number in metres of head: Class 10 for about 100 m.
Can you supply the pump too?
Yes. We are an authorised distributor for a leading global water technology brand and quote the pump and pipe together.
GUIDES
Read before you order
What the class number on PVC and HDPE pipe means, how to convert it to metres of head, and how to choose the right one.
Read the guide GUIDE · 5 MIN READHDPE or PVC pipe? How to choose for your projectPolyethylene and PVC both make excellent water pipe. They suit different jobs, and many projects use both.
Read the guideOther applications: Water supplyBulk water mainsIrrigationSewer and storm waterBuildings
Tell us the size, class and quantity. We'll quote it.
Every quote is built for the order. We don't publish prices, but we answer quickly.