This must have been quite a sturdy piece of machinery given the head of water (back pressure) it had to raise on every delivery stroke, i.e several hundred feet of water in what could be anything from 3 to 6 inch delivery pipes. I assume cast iron delivery pipes with a set of valves were used so it would be expensive to install too. More recently multi stage centrifugal pumps were used and 5000 gallons per minute wasn't unusual (Whittle). (PS. My family think I've lost my mind too, there aren't too many left who have a knowledge and experience of this almost forgotten industrial history as most of it is left buried hundreds of feet under our feet or the sea!)
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