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Rural Max Pump Buying Guide: Which Water Pump Do You Need?
Rural Max makes fourteen water pumps, and most of the choice comes down to three questions: where the water is, whether you need volume or pressure, and whether you want the pump to switch itself on. This guide matches common jobs to the right model, compares them side by side, and covers the tank, switch and hose that complete the system.
Start with the job
| The job | Rural Max pump |
|---|---|
| Tank water to the house and garden | JP100 or SJP800; automatic: JP100-E, SJP800-E |
| A bigger property, more taps at once | JP200 2HP |
| High pressure over long runs | DJSM102/5 multistage |
| Filling tanks, flood irrigation | TF1 or CP-3 |
| Sprinklers, pumping uphill | CP-4 |
| Draining tanks, ponds and flooded areas | RMQDX370 or RMQDX1100 |
| Sewage, septic and effluent pits | RMWQD15 or RMWQD7 macerator |
| A deep bore | BORE2 4 inch bore pump |
1. Where is the water?
Beside or just below the pump — a tank, dam, creek or shallow well — suits a surface pump. Rural Max surface pumps draw water from 7 to 9 metres below where the pump sits.
In a pit, a flooded area or deeper down needs a submersible that sits in the water and pushes it up: the RMQDX370 and RMQDX1100 for clean or slightly dirty water, and the sewage pumps for waste.
In a bore, use a bore pump. The BORE2 fits a 4 inch bore, lifts water up to 132 metres and comes with 40 metres of cable and a control box. Have it installed by a qualified pump installer and licensed electrician.
2. Volume or pressure?
Every pump trades flow (litres per minute) against head (how high, or how hard, it can push). Pick the one that matches your job:
- Volume — filling tanks, flood irrigation, moving water between dams: the TF1 (267 L/min) or CP-3 (500 L/min).
- Pressure — sprinklers, long pipe runs, pumping uphill: the CP-4 (45 m head) or the DJSM102/5 multistage (50 m head).
- Household pressure — showers, taps and the garden from a tank: the JP and SJP pressure pumps (43–50 m head).
3. Manual or automatic?
For household water you want the pump to start when a tap opens and stop when it closes. Either buy a model with automatic pressure control built in — the JP100-E or SJP800-E — or add a pressure switch to a manual pump. The 10A RMPC-10 suits pumps up to 1.1 kW (JP100, SJP800); the 30A RMPC-30 suits pumps up to 3HP (JP200, DJSM102/5). Both sit on top of the pump, need no setting up, and stop the pump if the water runs out.
4. Cast iron or stainless steel?
The JP100 and JP200 have cast iron bodies with brass impellers — tough and good value. The SJP800 and SJP800-E are stainless steel throughout (impeller, shaft and housing), which is the better choice for bore water, coastal air and anywhere corrosion is a worry.
5. Dirty water and sewage
- Clean or slightly dirty water: RMQDX370 (small jobs, up to 97 L/min) or RMQDX1100 (up to 467 L/min).
- Sewage with solids, passed through whole: RMWQD15 with a wide-passage impeller, 250 L/min at 15 m.
- Sewage through long or narrow pipe: the RMWQD7 macerator cuts solids up as it pumps.
Compare all 14 Rural Max pumps
| Pump | Type | Power | Max flow | Max head | Water source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP100 | Surface pressure | 750 W | 55 L/min | 43 m | up to 9 m below |
| JP100-E | Surface pressure, automatic | 750 W | 55 L/min | 43 m | up to 9 m below |
| SJP800 | Surface pressure, stainless | 800 W | 55 L/min | 48 m | up to 8 m below |
| SJP800-E | Surface pressure, stainless, automatic | 800 W | 55 L/min | 48 m | up to 8 m below |
| JP200 | Surface pressure | 2HP | 130 L/min | 50 m | up to 9 m below |
| DJSM102/5 | Surface multistage | 2HP | 90 L/min | 50 m | — |
| TF1 | Centrifugal transfer | 1HP | 267 L/min | 18 m | up to 7 m below |
| CP-3 | Centrifugal transfer | 3HP | 500 L/min | 26 m | up to 7 m below |
| CP-4 | Centrifugal, high pressure | 2.6HP | 200 L/min | 45 m | up to 7 m below |
| RMQDX370 | Submersible, clean/slightly dirty | 0.5HP | 97 L/min | 17.5 m | submerged to 5 m |
| RMQDX1100 | Submersible, clean/slightly dirty | 1.5HP | 467 L/min | 17 m | submerged to 5 m |
| RMWQD15 | Submersible sewage | 2HP | 333 L/min | 19 m | submerged to 5 m |
| RMWQD7 | Submersible macerator | 2HP | 350 L/min | 19 m | submerged to 5 m |
| BORE2 | 4 inch bore | 2HP | 67 L/min | 132 m | in a 4 inch bore |
Complete the system
- Pressure tank: stores a little water under pressure so the pump starts less often. Rural Max tanks are pre-charged to 2 bar and rated to 10 bar — from the compact 8 L to the 80 L for bores and big households. See all pressure tanks.
- Pressure switch: to automate a manual pump — see pump controllers.
- Lay flat hose: for the discharge side only (it collapses under suction), rated to 4 bar — about 40 m of head. Fittings are sold separately. Our best seller is the 2 inch x 100 m; see all lay flat hose.
Warranty and delivery
Rural Max pumps carry a 12 month warranty. We deliver Australia-wide from our Derrimut warehouse in Melbourne's west — heavier pumps go by freight with a tailgate service — or you can choose Pickup at checkout and collect free. Browse the whole Rural Max range, or contact us if you'd like help choosing.