why use submersible pumps for wells?

Given the labor involved in pulling a submersible pump (especially with hard pipe), there must be a good reason for using them, as opposed above-ground pumps. From an efficiency standpoint, it seems like it wouldn't matter where the pump is located along the path since it still has to pump against the same head. What am I missing here?

As an aside, I recall the pump for my family's lake cabin was mounted on top of the well head. I recall my dad having to prime the pump from time to time, but I always thought that was because the place wasn't used regularly.

ginahoy said:

From an efficiency standpoint, it seems like it wouldn't matter where the pump is located along the path since it still has to pump against the same head. What am I missing here?

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A submersible is more than twice as efficient. A pump is much better at pushing than pulling.

ginahoy said:

As an aside, I recall the pump for my family's lake cabin was mounted on top of the well head. I recall my dad having to prime the pump from time to time, but I always thought that was because the place wasn't used regularly.

Click to expand...

A sub never needs priming.
A sub is water cooled.
A sub is quieter.
A sub can pump from deeper.

Not to mention that most people hate hearing their jet pump come on in their basement.

From a purely capitalistic point of view, pump guys make infinitely more money with fewer hassles servicing submersibles than they ever could servicing jets.

LLigetfa said:

A submersible is more than twice as efficient. A pump is much better at pushing than pulling.

Click to expand...

Thanks for the responses. I get the other issues, but I didn't realize there was an inherent difference between pushing and pulling since the amount of work would be the same (e.g., difference between elevation of water table vs. receiver tank, plus pipe friction losses and bladder pressure). I guess this is attributed to the difference in the two pump designs.