Is arrow on bulb pointed in the right direction? When pumping bulb hold it so the arrow is pointing up. If that does not work, and you can feel fuel in the bulb, open the hood while squeezing and see where the leak is. Do not expect the bulb to stay firm while the motor is running, thats not how they work.
Motors that ingest water are known to fail at even a higher rates....IMO you should avoid the type with a clear plastic "bowl" on the bottom, those are prone to fail.