ABSTRACT
The pump is the workhorse of water/wastewater operations. Simply, pumps use energy to keep water and wastewater moving. To operate a pump efficiently, the operator and/or maintenance operator must be familiar with several basic principles of hydraulics. In addition, to operate various unit processes, in both water and wastewater operations, at optimum levels, operators should know how to perform basic pumping calculations. Certain computations used for determining various pumping parameters are important to the water/wastewater operator. This chapter basic pumping calculations important to the subject matter. The clearest differentiation between centrifugal (or kinetic) pumps and positive displacement pumps is made or based on the method by which pumping energy is transmitted to the liquid. The two most common forms of positive displacement pumps are reciprocating action pumps (which use pistons, plungers, diaphragms, or bellows) and rotary action pumps (using vanes, screws, lobes, or progressing cavities).
