The present disclosure relates to a sampling pump configured for use in a wellbore for pumping liquid collecting in the wellbore. The sampling pump has a pump component including a motor and an outer housing configured to be inserted into the well bore. The outer housing has an inlet and an outlet. A fluid sensor detects when the inlet of the outer housing is positioned in the liquid in the wellbore. A flexible electrical cable assembly supplies power to the motor and the fluid sensor, and also communicates with the motor and the fluid sensor. A user control panel communicates with the flexible electrical cable and enables a user to control on and off operation of the DC motor from the control panel. The user control panel also has a component which is responsive to signals from the fluid sensor to indicate when the inlet is at least partially submerged in the liquid within the wellbore, as the pump is lowered into the wellbore.