A water-powered sump pump is a type of sump pump that uses the pressure of your home's water supply to pump water out of the sump pit. . They're a reliable alternative to battery-powered backups. Instead of using electricity, water-powered pumps use a venturi system that creates a vacuum to draw water up from the sump pit.. They're also environmentally friendly, as they don't use any electricity. They're not as powerful as electric pumps Make sure you have adequate water pressure for a water-powered backup to operate.