In drafting with low intake pressure, what is one recommended action besides increasing discharge pressure?

• A. Direct the stream toward the ground.
• B. Increase the nozzle size.
• C. Consider additional intake lines or alternate water sources.
• D. Defer pumping until intake improves.

Answer: (C)

When drafting with low intake pressure, the priority is to improve the water supply to the pump, not to push harder against a weak source. Adding intake lines or bringing in an alternate water source directly increases the amount of water available to the pump and can lower the lift and friction losses the pump has to overcome. By sharing the suction load across multiple lines or tapping into a second source, you raise the net water available at the pump and reduce the risk of cavitation from insufficient suction pressure.

Directing the stream toward the ground doesn’t affect the pump’s suction and won’t help with intake pressure. Increasing the nozzle size raises the discharge demand, which can worsen the problem when intake is already low. Deferring pumping until intake improves isn’t practical in most scenarios—you want to establish a workable supply now.