What type of pumps should I be looking for

We have a pond that is going to be the primary water source for our sheep as well as irrigation for our orchard, but I need a way to pump water ~70 feet vertically to get to the top of the hill to a tank so I can run hoses out to the orchard and the livestock waterers.  I'm not sure what the best way to accomplish this is or what type of pumps I need to be looking into.  

To help the advice to be in the right direction...

Do you have electricity at the pond or close to the same elevation?  A pump can push the water up to the tank from the pond, but can't suck it from the pond to the tank.

Do you need the pump to come on and off automatically?

Can a slow pump run continuously and overflow at the top of the hill?

Mike Haasl wrote:To help the advice to be in the right direction...

Do you have electricity at the pond or close to the same elevation?  A pump can push the water up to the tank from the pond, but can't suck it from the pond to the tank.

Do you need the pump to come on and off automatically?

Can a slow pump run continuously and overflow at the top of the hill?

Thank you for asking these questions!  They are the ones I didn't even know to answer.

We can run power to the pond, or run a small generator there.  

I'd prefer that the pump be controlled manually (like plugging it in and unplugging it to turn it off and on, only pumping when necessary)

I'd prefer a pump that I can run and then turn off, slowish is OK, I can hang out for a little while, but we aren't living out at the land yet, so being able to run it for an hour or so to add some level to the tank and then shut it off and put things away when we leave.

I'm guessing a simple sprinkler pump might do the trick for you:  Wayne 1hp sprinkler pump
It'll move about 400 gallons per hour with that amount of lift.  If you need more, there are bigger pumps.

Any DC current pump will do.  DC means one can power off a battery, a vehicle, or a solar panel.  Make sure the pump is either a 'trash pump; or a utility pump with a filter set up on the inlet.  Pond Debris means the death of your pump; and if you are not there, sheep in trouble.  



example of a DC utility pump

Thank you guys so much!  I guess I was concerned with finding something that can handle enough of a head, but I'll check these out.  

They make DC well pull pumps also.  I don't see why one could not adapt a deep well pump to a pond situation.  

This one will give up to a 230 foot head lift.  
No affiliation.

70 feet vertically is only roughly 35 psi.  Most irrigation and sprinkler pumps should manage this if they are just dumping into an open container.

I would look at a piston pump, they are an older design but work very well when large volumes per minute or pressure is not needed.

If you need to lift water about 70 feet from the pond to a tank, you’ll want to look at high-head pumps rather than the small circulation pumps people use for decorative ponds or fountains.

The main thing to pay attention to is the pump’s “maximum head height.” That number tells you how high the pump can push water vertically. Since you’re lifting roughly 70 ft, you’ll want a pump rated well above that (usually 90–120 ft) because you’ll lose some pressure to friction in the pipe and fittings.

A lot of folks in similar setups use either a submersible high-head pond pump or a surface centrifugal/transfer pump placed near the pond. Submersibles tend to be quieter and simpler, but surface pumps are easier to maintain and often move more water for irrigation. If the pond is your main water source for animals and trees, reliability matters more than anything.

One other tip: run larger diameter pipe than you think you need (1.5" or even 2"). That reduces friction loss and helps the pump move water uphill more efficiently.

I’ve seen people using models similar to the Best Pond Pumps From MidWest Ponds for situations where they need steady pond pumping for aeration or moving water, but the key is still making sure the head rating matches your elevation gain.

If the tank is just acting as a gravity reservoir for the orchard and livestock, you’re on the right track — once the tank is full, everything downhill becomes much simpler.

The type of pump you should look for mostly depends on what you’re pumping (clean water vs. dirty water), how far it needs to move, and whether it needs pressure or just volume. For most small homestead or garden systems, people usually end up choosing between a submersible pump, a shallow well/jet pump, or a small transfer pump.

If the pump will sit in the water source (pond, cistern, or tank), a submersible pump is often the simplest option. They’re efficient because they push water instead of trying to pull it, which avoids a lot of suction limitations. They also tend to be quieter and easier to prime since they’re already underwater.

If your pump will sit outside the water source, like pulling from a shallow well or storage tank, then a jet pump or surface transfer pump might make more sense. These are easier to access for maintenance, but they usually need proper priming and they struggle if the lift is more than about 20–25 feet.

Another thing beginners sometimes overlook is flow rate vs. pressure.

If you’re moving water for irrigation or filling tanks, prioritise gallons per minute (GPM).

If you’re feeding sprinklers or household plumbing, you’ll also need adequate pressure (PSI).

A practical example: on many small properties people run a submersible pump in a pond or cistern feeding a storage tank uphill, then gravity-feed irrigation from there. It reduces pump cycling and keeps the system simple.

And just as a side note about online discussions: occasionally you’ll see unrelated phrases show up in threads (I once saw something like Premier Pitching Performance Baseball Remote Pitching Training dropped into a water pump discussion), which is usually just automated spam rather than useful advice so it’s worth focusing on the technical details instead.

Takeaway: figure out your water source, lift height, and required flow first. Once those are clear, the right pump type usually becomes pretty obvious.

For a 70-foot lift, you’ll need a high-head centrifugal or submersible pump rather than a standard pond pump. Focus on pumps rated for the head first, then flow, this ensures enough pressure for both your orchard and livestock waterers.

A simple intake strainer helps prevent debris from clogging the pump. In my experience, sizing for head before flow makes a huge difference, and that’s what really separates the best pond pumps for this kind of setup.

https://midwestponds.com/collections/pond-pumps