A jet pump can lift water a maximum of how many feet?

A jet pump is designed to lift water using the principles of suction and pressure. The maximum height to which a jet pump can effectively lift water is influenced by atmospheric pressure and the limitations of the suction process. At sea level, the theoretical maximum suction lift of a pump is around 33.9 feet; this figure is derived from atmospheric pressure, which supports a column of water up to that height.

However, actual operational parameters often involve factors such as friction loss and the efficiency of the pump itself, which means that practical limitations reduce this theoretical lift. Jet pumps, depending on their design and specifications, can typically lift water up to approximately 120 feet under optimal conditions, making this the more realistic maximum lift height when accounting for these various influences.

Thus, the answer indicating 120 feet reflects the operational capabilities of jet pumps, whereas the lower figure of 33.9 feet represents purely the physics of atmospheric pressure without considering real-world conditions and pump design.