Back in my firefighting days, cavitation was one of the things the pump operator had to be really aware of, as cavitation can cause serious damage to a fire pum

Back in my firefighting days, cavitation was one of the things the pump operator had to be really aware of, as cavitation can cause serious damage to a fire pump. This is why you have to pay a lot of attention to "residual pressure" when taking water from a hydrant (or relay from other apparatus), and/or make sure you don't run out of water when drafting from a drop tank.