Hi VF,
I think "water lift" was a flavor-of-the-day measurement system from a good many years back and has been replaced today by terms like "air watts," etc. The like is mostly BS generated by PR people and guys who spend more time at a drawing board than they ever will with a vacuum in hand. Always remember -- "If you can't dazzle them with brilliance . . . baffle them with BS . . ."
Venson
Water lift ratings and vacuums are passe, perhaps the reason not found. Went the same way as horsepower ratings of years gone by and other vacuum standards of measure. As well they should. They are meaningless for gauging comparative performance.
Carmine D.