Remove the loss of pressure as pipes get longer.

[mrvn]

The pump limits the flow. That means you can use as many pipes before the steam engines and the pump will give back pressue so your network of pipes doesn't drain out all on the same steam engine. However you design to split the water it will split because it can't go out just one way.

[ssilk]

You need more than one pump.

https://wiki.factorio.com/index.php?title=Offshore_pump
-> min. 2 pumps are needed to gain full throughput

https://wiki.factorio.com/index.php?title=Small_pump
-> min. 5 pumps are needed to gain full throughput

[Zeblote]

I didn't even know this was a thing...