I set one of these systems up many years ago for a large estate. I used a close coupled, end suction pump with flow and pressure switches for protection. Built a pump house to keep the pump and sprinkler controls out of the weather.

I would think you could use a submersible with GFCI protection. Is the designer sure of the code interpretation?

When you say "whole bunch of pressure and flow" does anyone have an idea how much? I worked pretty close with the irrigation designer in order to select an efficient pump for the system.

Life�s mostly scars and souvenirs