Reported compartment flooding due to damaged firemain down, what can't you use?

• A. Submersible pump
• B. Portable eductors
• C. Trash pump
• D. Hand bilge pump

Answer: (B)

When you’re dewatering a compartment and the firemain is down, you want methods that don’t depend on that damaged water line. A portable eductor works by using a high-velocity discharge to create suction, which requires a motive water source or other pressurized supply. If the firemain is down, that motive flow isn’t available, so the eductor can’t develop the suction needed to move water.

Other dewatering options like a submersible pump, trash pump, or hand bilge pump don’t rely on the firemain’s pressure; they can operate from independent power or manual effort, making them usable even with the firemain out of service. So the device you can’t rely on in this situation is the portable eductor.