A high flow intake system for a horizontal pump skid installation is provided for reducing cavitation and for eliminating a necessity to have a booster pump. A pump inlet assembly has a collar that is affixed to a horizontal pump body proximate a pump intake. The pump inlet assembly has a plurality, e.g., four, inlet members that protrude from the collar member at an angle, preferably, 30 degrees, from a longitudinal axis of the pump body. Each of a plurality of hoses is connected to one of the plurality of inlet members. A distribution manifold has an inlet and a plurality of outlets that receive the second ends of the hoses. Preferably, each of the hoses has a length that is at least 20 times an inner diameter so that fluid passing through each of the hoses develops laminar flow.