Well pumps are most commonly used to bring potable water up from wells and springs to the surface. Collectively, well pumps include a number of other pump types, such as jet pumps, submersible pumps, mud pumps, and bladder pumps.  Well pumps may be used for other applications beyond well water collection, such as unloading barges, small tankers or storage tanks, and may include pumping other media besides water, such as oil or natural gas; or less commonly chemicals and petrochemicals, hazardous materials, slurries (especially ash slurries) and wastewater.  While they are most at home in water distribution services (municipal and agricultural) and mining or other fuel production applications, they are sometimes found in construction and commercial service industries.

Water well pumps are roughly divided into two styles, shallow well pumps and deep well pumps.  Shallow well pumps are generally located above ground to lift water out of the ground through a suction pipe. The typical lift limit for such a pump is 33.9 feet, at sea level, although some shallow well jet pumps may be able to provide greater lift.  Deep well pumps are submersible water well pumps that are used to force water upward from a pumping element below the water level. They are not restricted by suction lift limitations.  Non-water well pumps include well stimulation pumps, which are typically used to rejuvenate old, or poorly producing wells.  They are typically used in oil and fuel production and are similar to deep well water pumps in specification.

Well pumps are most commonly used to bring potable water up from wells and springs to the surface. Collectively, well pumps include a number of other pump types, such as jet pumps, submersible pumps, mud pumps, and bladder pumps.  Well pumps may be used for other applications beyond well water collection, such as unloading barges, small tankers or storage tanks, and may include pumping other media besides water, such as oil or natural gas; or less commonly chemicals and petrochemicals, hazardous materials, slurries (especially ash slurries) and wastewater.  While they are most at home in water distribution services (municipal and agricultural) and mining or other fuel production applications, they are sometimes found in construction and commercial service industries.

Water well pumps are roughly divided into two styles, shallow well pumps and deep well pumps.  Shallow well pumps are generally located above ground to lift water out of the ground through a suction pipe. The typical lift limit for such a pump is 33.9 feet, at sea level, although some shallow well jet pumps may be able to provide greater lift.  Deep well pumps are submersible water well pumps that are used to force water upward from a pumping element below the water level. They are not restricted by suction lift limitations.  Non-water well pumps include well stimulation pumps, which are typically used to rejuvenate old, or poorly producing wells.  They are typically used in oil and fuel production and are similar to deep well water pumps in specification.

Well pumps may be actuated by a wide variety of power sources.  These include AC or DC power sources, pneumatic or hydraulic power, fuel powered engines (gas or diesel) manual power (hand well pumps), and solar well pumps.