Water pumps?

Are these a regular failure item? Mine seems to be on the way out, the main pulley looks loose and it is whining a bit. I am having someone look at it today.

The engine has been loosing all its coolant / water quickly over the past few days. Please say these are connected, the oil seems to be healthy enough, no creamyness.

you dont say which model you have but if its a 300tdi when you take the pump off, also take off the housing that it bolts onto as there is a gasket behind it which could leak after you change the pump. this is what happened to me so I had to strip it again.good luck, Beni.