Frequently Asked Questions
My land is flat with no hills. Can I still use these pumps?
Only if you can achieve at least 0.3 metres (ideally 0.6 metres) drop along a drive pipe no longer than eight metres. A small dam or weir may be used to create enough fall. However, the pumps can still produce low volumes of water from a drop as small as 0.3 metres (see Performance Tables).
How can I measure fall accurately?
Ideally with an altimeter. Otherwise, fill a garden hose with water, have one person hold the top end just under the high point of the water where a drive pipe would start, run the hose for eight metres down the slope, put the bottom end of the house into the stream, and ensure water is flowing through. Then raise the bottom end until the flow stops and measure the height. This will give you the vertical drop, or fall.
​
What would the pump cost me over ten years?
Our retail prices are AUD$2750 ex factory for the 320 and AUD $1750 for the Aquarius. The buyer pays freight, goods and service tax (GST) if in Australia, and maintenance costs which are only a leather cup every year and a diaphragm every two years in ideal conditions of clean water without silt or sand. As there are no fuel or power purchases, the total cost of purchase of the 320 plus parts averages only AUD$230. a year for the first ten years, and only AUD$25 a year after that. (Estimates assume normal operating conditions and 2017 retail prices and exclude freight and postage). This is very cheap compared with most pump types.
​
The pump is so hard-wearing that some are still operating after more than 30 years.
​
I’m not a technical person. Would I be able to install your pump by myself? And what should I do if it doesn’t work?
Yes, you will be able to install the pump if you follow our Site Assessment and User Manuals carefully. Also, your order must provide accurate site measurements so that we can select correct components to build your pump.
Our User Manual covers most problems, and you can always call us for advice.
​
What happens if I change the bore size to get more output?
​
We will have used the correct bore size to suit your site fall, and according to the Performance Statistics table. Changing it to a larger bore size will affect the pump’s pressure and output.
​
Can I control the amount of water I need daily? Is it difficult to change?
You can easily change the water output using the throttle.
​
I need a pump for irrigation, and at planting times I need a lot of water. Can I increase the output?
Yes, by winding the throttle inward you can increase the stroke which sends more water to the delivery pipe. For a longer term increase in volume you can link two or more pumps together at the delivery pipe. One of our customers uses a five pump set-up.
​
Our village water supply is in a valley with a steep climb, and hard to get to. Will we have to do a lot of maintenance?
The pump is very reliable, and after it has been properly set up and adjusted it will not need a lot of attention except to change the leather cup and diaphragm as recommended. However, a monthly inspection is recommended, and the intake area must be free of leaves and debris.
​
Our river floods in the wet season. How do we manage the pump then?
The pump has tie down anchoring eye bolts that can be chained to a tree or dyna-bolted to a large rock. You can also attach a chain block tackle on a wire rope so that you can lift the pump out of the water if heavy floods are expected.
​
Our stream freezes in winter, and water temperatures are very cold most of the year. Can we still use your pump?
Yes, if the stream is flowing the pump will work in any temperature.
​
Our stream is close to the house in the bush, and we like peace and quiet. Would this pump make a noise?
The pump is very quiet because there is no metal-on-metal contact, and not audible at four metres.
​
Can I take the pump on a plane?
Yes, the 320 weighs about 52kg and the Aquarius is about 18kg. Both can be separated into two parts which can be carried as personal baggage. Our overseas buyers often do this.
​
What are the critical measurements that dictate whether or not the pump will work properly and what will happen if my measurements are wrong?
Drop, Fall, Drive Head: These are the most critical factors – the pump works best where the fall is between 0.6 and 1.8 metres, providing sufficient water pressure. At 0.4 metres the pump will work but cannot achieve much output or height. Above 1.8 metres the water pressure will stress the diaphragm and other components. Our Performance Statistics information charts shows the configuration options.
Water flow: The rate of flow must be between 4.5 and eight litres a second.
Delivery head: The 320 will send water uphill to a height of 200 metres, and the Aquarius has been tested to 50 metre. Measure the height with an altimeter or on a topographical map.
Follow our Site Assessment Manual to ensure accurate measurements.
In what situations would the Glockemann Water Pump not work?
It will not work in a deep water well; in a dam with less water flowing in than the pump requires to operate; or when the supply of water from your creek is too low.
​
What extra components will I need for the installation?
- Drive pipe: This can be PVC (similar to the downpipe on a household gutter) or steel, with diameter from 100mm (the most
popular) to 150mm, and length from six to eight times the drive head. A much longer drive pipe can be used to get the right
fall, but the increased friction, particularly if there are bends in the pipe, will slow the water flow into the pump. For example,
in a 100 metre drive pipe with a one metre drop overall the fall pressure could be reduced to the equivalent of a 0.75 metre drop.
See procedure for “Long drive pipe installation”.
- Delivery pipe
- Two filters: A filter or strainer to keep fish, snakes, leaves and other objects out of the drive pipe and an intake filter or screen
to ensure clean water to the delivery pipe.
- Two one way valves
- Rubber drive connection
​
