The original 15 hydraulic diaphragm metering pumps at the Moores Bridges Water Production Facility in Norfolk, Va., had reached the end of their life. Daily leaks alerted operators to failing diaphragms and check valves. Every stroke of the pulsation dampener jarred the pipes, causing structural fatigue and more leaks.
By 2009, 10 pumps were permanently out of service. Of the remaining five, one or two were constantly in the facility's large repair shop. "My operations supervisor and I lost a lot of sleep worrying about the pumps not lasting through the night or
