Pumps are essential to the daily operation of many facilities. This tends to promote the practice of sizing pumps conservatively toensure that the needs of the system will be met under all conditions. Intent on ensuring that the pumps are large enough to meet system needs, engineers often overlook the cost of oversizing pumps and err on the side of safety by adding more pump capacity. Unfortunately, this practice results in higher-than-necessary system operating costs. In addition, oversized pumps typically require more frequent maintenance than properly sized pumps. Excess flow energy increases the wear and tear on system components, resulting in valve damage, piping stress, and excess system operation noise. A pump does not function in isolation: it is part of a system of supply and demand. The use of a “systems approach” will typically yield a quieter, more efficient, and more reliable system. In this course, we will explore the advantages of different types of pumps, pump components, and end-use equipment. We’ll also examine pump efficiency curves to gain a better understanding of the flow/pressure relationship.