A pump in desalination systems has four cylinders, each having a double acting piston. Each cylinder and piston defines a feed chamber and a recovery chamber. The pistons connect to a common drive. The connection to the common drive is such that the pistons reciprocate in a sequence equally spaced in time. Reciprocating valving for each piston is driven by the common drive to be 90 degrees out of phase with the respective piston. The valving connects the recovery chamber alternately to an inlet manifold for an intake stroke of the piston relative to the recovery chamber, and to an outlet manifold for a discharge stroke of the piston relative to the recovery chamber. A brief period of closure coincides with top dead centre and bottom dead centre of the piston, during which the recovery chamber is blocked off from both the inlet and outlet manifolds. The reciprocating valving is midway between its top dead centre and bottom dead centre during the period of closure.