What is effective height?

• A. The maximum discharge head
• B. The flow velocity head
• C. The static head only
• D. The total feet of head against which a pump must work

Answer: (D)

Effective height is the total head a pump must develop to push water through the system. It represents the sum of all heads the pump must overcome: elevation differences (static head), friction losses in pipes and fittings (friction head), and the velocity of the flowing water (velocity head). In other words, it’s the total feet of head against which the pump must work to deliver water to the desired point. This makes it the best description because it captures the complete load on the pump, not just a single component of head. It’s not just the static head, nor just the velocity head, and it isn’t simply a maximum discharge head.