It could be. The water pump is responsible for the cooling system and pulling heat away from the engine. If the pulley is loose or if you notice signs of a leak around the water pump’s weep hole, it’s time for a change. Be sure however that when replacing the water pump, you also drain, flush and refill the cooling system with the OE specified coolant mix. The seal in the pump is designed only to work with this chemistry. This is the #1 cause of leaks in new water pumps. Most modern vehicles use organic acid coolants.