Water pumps get water by creating a partial vacuum that draws the water in, and then increasing the water's pressure to push it out.
To understand this process, consider the different mechanisms involved:
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Creating a Vacuum: A water pump employs a piston or turbine (or other impellers) to lower the pressure inside the pump. This pressure difference - the lower pressure inside the pump compared to the higher atmospheric pressure acting on the water source (well, tank, etc.) - is what causes water to be drawn into the pump. Think of it like sucking on a straw; you lower the pressure in the straw, and atmospheric pressure pushes the liquid up.
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Increasing Pressure: Once the water is inside the pump chamber, the same piston, turbine, or impeller now increases the pressure on the water. This increased pressure is what forces the water out of the pump and into the pipes leading to its destination (e.g., your faucet).
Here's a simplified breakdown:
| Step | Action | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Vacuum creation | Water is drawn into the pump. |
| 2 | Pressure increase | Water is forced out of the pump and into pipes. |
In essence, water pumps leverage pressure differences to both draw water in and push it out. They don't "suck up" water in the way we might imagine, but rather, atmospheric pressure combined with a generated vacuum pushes water into the pump, and then the pump forces the water onward.
