What action is best to manage a sudden pump power failure in water distribution systems?

Installing surge protection devices is the best action to manage a sudden pump power failure in water distribution systems. Surge protection devices help safeguard the electrical components of the pump from voltage spikes that can occur when power is restored after an outage. These spikes can damage the pump or associated electrical systems, leading to expensive repairs or prolonged downtime.

By proactively integrating surge protection into the system, you can enhance the resilience of the equipment against power disturbances, ensuring that pumps operate effectively during power recovery. While regular maintenance of pumps is essential for overall system reliability, and alerting the monitoring crew is important for immediate response and safety, these actions do not directly mitigate the potential damage from power surges. Restarting the pump immediately after a power failure without addressing surge risks can also lead to damage or malfunction. Thus, establishing protective measures like surge protection devices is a crucial step in maintaining the integrity and functionality of water distribution systems.