Water is a scarce commodity, especially in rural areas, but without water nothing can be done; humans cannot survive, nothing can be grown, and animals cannot survive either.
Unfortunately, getting water across long distances where power lines are few or non-existent and fuel and maintenance costs are considerable can be a huge problem, especially to farmers. This is where solar water pumps, which are cost-effective and dependable come in handy.
Solar-Powered Water Pumps Ideal for Remote Areas
There are several methods for pumping water in remote areas, including ram pumps, gas or diesel pumps, and windmills, but most of these options require specific site conditions to operate and are also usually either too expensive to install, or for fuel and maintain.
Solar pumps can work for most locations and are often the best option for reducing cost and labour; they can be used year-round to provide potable water, animal grazing, and other farming operations.
Solar pumps are the best option for domestic water supplies for remote off-grid homes, livestock watering for pond and stream protection, rotational or prescribed grazing, and remote pasturing.
Conventional AC-powered pumps require a stable voltage and frequency to operate, as well as requiring large amounts of power to move large volumes of water in a short period of time. Solar-powered pumps on the other hand are specifically designed to accept DC power directly from the solar modules, can operate over a wide range of voltage and available current, and are optimised for operating under minimal sun conditions. Solar pumps also generally move smaller volumes of water over an extended period of time, which utilises less energy and minimises the size and cost of the PV array.
Most solar water-pumping systems use some kind of storage, and the best is to use a food-grade plastic tank that can hold a minimum of three days’ worth of water in order to balance variable sun conditions. It is also best to place the tank in a shaded area if possible to prevent the growth of algae. Alternatively you can make use of a buried cistern which will stabilise water temperature, offer freeze protection, and minimise poor water-quality issues.
Place your water tank at a high point on your property for an easy gravity-feed to where you need the water.
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