Inefficient pumping plants cost more to operate. Pumping plant efficiency can be tested to provide information on adjustments or retrofits needed to improve efficiency. To determine the pumping plant effciency, measure pumping lift, discharge pressure, flow rate, and fuel usage. Fuel usage can be read directly from the electric meter or by measuring the liquid level in the fuel tank over a specific time period. A pressure gauge is usually installed on the discharge side of the pump to indicate operating pressure.
Some systems have in-line flow meters to indicate pumping rate.
Once the above measurements have been made, the pumping plant performance can be computed from the relationships in the box on the following page. An example of a pumping plant performance analysis is shown in Table 3 on page 6. In this example, the pumping plant is performing at 86 percent of the Nebraska Standard. Irrigation Management Strategies to Improve Water and Energy Efficiencies . In establishing performance standards, it is recognized that individual pumping plant components are not 100 percent efficient.