Acronyms & Units
PSI
Pounds per Square Inch
PSI stands for pounds per square inch, the unit of pressure on every pump gauge. Nozzle pressure, friction loss, elevation, and pump discharge pressure are all expressed in psi.
Pressure is what the panel gauges read, and psi is its unit. The operator's whole job — building a pump discharge pressure, watching a residual, holding a target — is carried out in psi.
Pressure is not the same as flow. A line can show a healthy pressure and move little water, or move a lot of water at a modest pressure; keeping psi and gpm distinct is the start of reading the panel correctly.