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SIMAQ

5-minute training

5 min

How to use the water pump

To use a water pump: set it close to the water and as low as possible, fill the casing through the priming plug, fit the strainer on the suction hose, start it and send the discharge well away from the excavation. SIMAQ's SQWP30 PRO (3″, 30 m³/h) and SQWP40 PRO (4″, 40 m³/h) pumps lift up to 8 m on the suction side. Never start it dry: that's what damages pumps most.

Also called: trash pump, dewatering pump, motor pump

The pump dewaters trenches, basements and excavations. Nearly every problem comes from the suction side: a long or soft hose, joints sucking air or the pump sitting too high above the water. The discharge can be long; the suction, the shorter the better.

  1. 01

    Place the pump

    Firm, level ground, as close and as low as possible relative to the water. If the pump sits more than 8 m above the water, it won't pull: move it lower.

  2. 02

    Set up the suction

    Reinforced suction hose (one that won't collapse), tight joints with their gaskets and the strainer on the end. The strainer hangs in the water, not buried in the mud.

  3. 03

    Prime the casing

    With the pump off, remove the priming plug, fill the casing with water to the brim and close it again. A pump run dry overheats and damages the seal.

  4. 04

    Start and check flow

    Start and give it a few seconds: steady water should come out the discharge. If not, shut it off, prime again and look for air leaks in the suction.

  5. 05

    Discharge away and watch the level

    Send the water well away from the excavation so it won't flow back. If the level drops to the strainer, shut it off: the pump would start sucking air and mud.

Do this

  • Always prime the casing before starting.
  • If the pump won't pull → look for air at joints and gaskets before blaming the engine.
  • Short suction, as low as possible; the discharge can be long.
  • Choose 3″ or 4″ by flow and head: 30 m³/h for the SQWP30 PRO, 40 m³/h for the SQWP40 PRO.

Avoid this

  • Don't run it dry, not even a minute.
  • Don't pump without a strainer or with the strainer buried in mud.
  • Don't use a soft suction hose: it collapses and starves the pump.
  • Don't set it higher than the maximum suction lift (8 m).

Safety

  • Hot exhaust: keep it ventilated, away from fuel.
  • Mind hose runs across foot and equipment traffic.
  • Gloves and boots when handling dirty site water.

Test yourself

Got it down?

Self-check

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Each practice: do it or avoid it? Tap your answer.

  • Don't run it dry, not even a minute.

  • Always prime the casing before starting.

  • Don't set it higher than the maximum suction lift (8 m).

  • Short suction, as low as possible; the discharge can be long.

  • Don't pump without a strainer or with the strainer buried in mud.

  • Don't use a soft suction hose: it collapses and starves the pump.

  • If the pump won't pull → look for air at joints and gaskets before blaming the engine.

  • Choose 3″ or 4″ by flow and head: 30 m³/h for the SQWP30 PRO, 40 m³/h for the SQWP40 PRO.

How to set up the water pump: suction, priming and dischargeDiagram of a water pump next to an excavation with water at the bottom. 1, the suction hose goes down into the water and ends in a strainer that keeps out stones and debris. 2, keep the suction short and the pump as close to the water as possible: maximum suction lift is 8 meters. 3, before starting, prime the pump by filling the casing with water. 4, the discharge hose sends the water away from the excavation. Comparison: the 3 inch SQWP30 PRO pump delivers up to 30 cubic meters per hour and lifts up to 13 meters of total head; the 4 inch SQWP40 PRO, up to 40 cubic meters per hour and up to 16 meters. They are separate maximums: the higher the lift, the lower the flow. Both have an 8 meter maximum suction lift.water12341Strainer on the suction2Short, low suction: max.suction lift 8 m3Prime: fill the casing withwater before starting4Discharge away from the digPumpMax flowMaxhead3″ SQWP30 PRO30 m³/h13 m4″ SQWP40 PRO40 m³/h16 mBoth: max. suction lift 8 m.
Not to scale. Flow and head are separate maximums (the higher the lift, the lower the flow), per the SIMAQ spec sheets.

FAQ

What people ask about the water pump

How do you prime a water pump?

With the pump off, remove the priming plug, fill the casing with water to the brim and close it. Make sure the suction hose and its joints are tight: if air gets in, the pump won't prime.

Why does the pump run but move no water?

Almost always the suction side: the casing isn't full, a joint is sucking air, the strainer is clogged or the pump sits too high above the water. On SQWP pumps the maximum suction lift is 8 m; the closer to the water, the better.

3-inch or 4-inch pump: which one?

A regular trench or basement → 3″ (SQWP30 PRO, 30 m³/h). Lots of water or a fast drain-down → 4″ (SQWP40 PRO, 40 m³/h and 16 m total head). Choose by flow and total head, not just diameter.

How high or far can it push water?

It depends on the total head it has to beat: the SQWP30 PRO lifts up to 13 m and the SQWP40 PRO up to 16 m, adding suction, discharge and hose friction. The site-dewatering lesson shows how to work it out.

How often does the pump need an oil change?

On the SQWP30 PRO and SQWP40 PRO: first change at 20 hours or one month, then every 100 hours or 6 months, whichever comes first. Check the level before every use.

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