Question 260Safety & Environmental - QMED

The correct answer is A) Friction in the piping and valves. The loss of water pressure between the pump discharge and the fire hose outlet is primarily due to friction losses within the piping and valves of the system. As the water flows through the pipes and valves, it encounters resistance from the roughness of the surfaces, bends, and other obstructions, causing a decrease in the overall pressure. This frictional loss is the common cause of the lower water pressure at the fire hose outlet compared to the pump discharge. The other options, such as a leaky pump suction valve (B), wear in the hydrant (C), or a leaky pilot valve (D), may contribute to pressure loss, but they are not the primary or most common cause, as the friction in the piping and valves is the dominant factor.