Question 101General Subjects - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is C) Very short and frequent running and idle periods for the potable water pump. In a waterlogged hydro-pneumatic header tank, the compressed air cushion has been lost, causing the tank to become filled with water. This results in the potable water pump cycling on and off very frequently to maintain system pressure, as the waterlogged tank cannot properly dampen the pressure fluctuations in the system. The pump will run for a short period to build pressure, then shut off, only to have to start again quickly as the pressure drops. This short, frequent cycling is the defining characteristic of a waterlogged hydro-pneumatic tank. The other options are incorrect because a waterlogged tank would not cause the pump to fail to start (A), have extremely long run times (B), or fail to stop when demand is zero (D). The rapid cycling of the pump is the key indicator of this issue.