As flow decreases, pressure will ________ provided pump speed remains constant.

The relationship between flow and pressure in a pump system, when considering a constant pump speed, is rooted in the principles of fluid dynamics. When flow decreases while pump speed remains constant, the pressure will increase.

This occurs because the pump is designed to maintain a certain performance characteristic—its flow and pressure relationship—at a given speed. As the flow decreases, the pump's ability to generate a higher pressure increases, which is often visualized on a pump curve. The curve will illustrate that at lower flow rates, the system can achieve higher pressure levels due to the reduced hydraulic resistance within the pump itself.

In essence, when the pump’s output flow is restrained while the operational speed does not change, the energy imparted to the fluid is redirected, resulting in an increase in pressure. This principle is crucial for operators to understand, as it allows for effective management of water supply dynamics in firefighting scenarios.