Water pumps are designed to move water that does not contain suspended solids or particulates. Applications include water supply, irrigation, land and mine drainage, sea water desalination, and condensate transport. While slurries and the like are best handled by wastewater or sewage pumps, water pumps can handle ground water, potable water and salt water. Water pumps are widely used in water supply distribution applications; for irrigation; land and mine drainage; condensate transport; and for sump and bilge pumping. 

Industrial water pumps are not so much a type of pump as they are a classification based on the media being transferred.  Nearly every pump type that is defined by either a complementary application (fountain water pumps, submersible water pumps) or by motive type (such as centrifugal, cantilever, or hand water pumps) can be used in water service applications.  The major influences over what type of pump to select are the specific application, the discharge flow and the discharge pressure required (high pressure water pumps are available), the size of the inlet and outlets to which the water pump will be connected, the temperature of the water that will be pumped (select a hot water pump specifically designed to transfer high temperature media), and whether or not the water must maintain some form of sterility.

One of the most important specifications to consider when selecting between the many available types of available water pumps is the type of power source that will be required to run to pump.  Electric water pumps are quite common.  These include both AC and DC powered pumps (such as 12 volt water pumps). Gas powered water pumps and other fuel driven pumps (oil, gas, diesel, etc.) are both reliable, commonly available, and capable of generate high degrees of lift.  Solar water pumps are also available. While solar powered water pumps are not generally able to provide the same motive forces as electric or gas driven water pumps, they are useful in small flow situations, especially in applications that require remote placement, or in places where regular supervision is not available.