scroll passages 72 and 73 leading from the flow cutoffs 70 and 71 respectively to the pump discharge 53 as is shown in fig3 and 4 the flow cutoffs 70 and 71 begin at the tail end of the arrows in these figures and are located at diametrically opposite locations of the volute chamber 46 by this arrangement radial thrust on the pump shaft 42 from the impeller discharge flow is eliminated in accordance with the invention there is provided means for supplying water to the pump 40 during an additional priming method in case the priming pump 41 should fail to produce a proper prime such means is best shown in fig2 and comprises a priming port 80 formed in the top wall of upper body portion 48 at the highest point of the upper inlet passage 56 thereof and a priming port bowl 82 mounted by means of a pair of screws 84 and nuts 85 on the upper body portion 48 to enclose the priming port 80 bowl 82 provides a container for water to be delivered to the inlet chamber 56 during a priming operation there is also provided a plug means for opening and closing the priming port 80 said plug means including a plug 81 mounted in a plug support arm 86.