Should the MPO expect the rated capacity of the pump if drafting with greater than 10 feet of lift?

When drafting water from a source with a lift greater than 10 feet, the Mobile Pump Operator should adjust their expectations regarding the rated capacity of the pump. Atmospheric pressure limits the amount of lift a pump can effectively achieve, and as the lift increases beyond 10 feet, the system faces greater challenges, leading to a reduction in the pump's efficiency and capacity.

Pumps have optimal performance parameters, and when they are required to operate at lifts that exceed these parameters, their ability to maintain the rated capacity diminishes. The increased lift means the pump must work harder to move the water, leading to cavitation and a reduction in flow rates. This is particularly significant because most centrifugal pumps can only effectively draft water from a depth of approximately 10 feet without experiencing a significant drop in performance.

Therefore, when drafting with more than 10 feet of lift, it is indeed reasonable to expect less capacity from the pump, as it operates under less than ideal conditions, requiring the operator to adapt their expectations and possibly the pumping strategy to accommodate for the decrease in performance.