The invention relates to a pump control method for the control of the operation of a pump system with at least two pump assemblies (2) which are arranged parallel or in series to one another. The method includes determining a specific total power ES of the complete pump system which defines a total power in relation to a hydraulic total load of the complete pump system, determining a specific individual power EP,n of each pump assembly (2) which defines an individual power in relation to the individual hydraulic load of the respective pump assembly (2), computing an individual load factor Egain,n for each pump assembly (2) according to the equation E gain , n = E S E P , n and adapting the individual hydraulic load (Qn; Hn) of the pump assemblies (2) in dependence on a desired hydraulic load (QD; HD) as well as on the individual load factor Egain,n of the respective pump assembly (2).