ALTERNATE WATER SUPPLY OPERATIONS RURAL WATER SUPPLY AND DELIVERY SYSTEMS FIRE PROTECTION ANALYSIS
This survey will evaluate and set forth the optimum method(s) for the fire department to develop effective water supply operations within their area of operations and response. It will cover both pressurized water supply and alternate water supply delivery systems; this type water delivery is for fire suppression water beyond the pressurized hydrant supply. Alternate water supply deals with the supply of water that is not provided directly to the fire scene from a pressurized water source. The water can be provided by the drafting of water from selected drafting sites (flowing or impounded water using suction hose and strainer or dry hydrant location), fill up from underground / on ground storage tanks and overhead storage tanks, piping installed into earthen farm type dams, and the prepared use of irrigation pumps. The transfer of water from any of these type water sites can be accomplished by fire attack hose from pumper units within 1000 feet of insurable structures when drafting from a recognized water source, by large diameter hose for any distance desired by the fire department, or by the operation of mobile water supply units (commonly called tanker or more correctly, mobile water supply or tender unit); this type operation is commonly referred to as water shuttle. The manner(s) and method(s) of water delivery to the pumper(s)suppressing the fire after the shuttling unit arrives in the general fire area can be many and varied. Since the use of this type of operation is conducted most generally in the rural environment, it is often referred to as “rural water supply”.
If the present operation of the fire department does not include the alternate water supply capability and the department desires to become more familiar with any of these type operations (including the ISO parameters and requirements), a class will be offered on these subjects (Developing Alternate Water Supply and Transportation Methods). I have found through 35 years of experience, that is much better to be totally aware of the requirements and necessities of delivery methods of these types through use off instructional methods rather a department developing a piece-meal fire operational “experiment” using different equipment which is assumed to be what will be needed (whether it is locally modified or bought), personnel who are unaware of what may occur next, untried training methods, and “reinventing the wheel” type operations.
When the area of operations has sites for the accomplishment of this type operation, the department has the knowledge of how the operations need to be carried out, and they decide that this type operation will afford them additional fire protection capabilities for their response area operations, the entire operational concept will have a greater probability of successful completion. In addition, the recognition for the department of a goal being accomplished with savings and service to the public will be much greater. Regardless of the type of water supply operation(s) existing in the area of operations, the survey will be conducted for the purpose of suggesting implementations and improvements to increase both the point totals that will be obtained in an ISO survey of the operations AND A MORE EFFICIENT OPERATIONAL MODE.
Upon receiving a request for information, I will contact the department and we will outline the services to be provided to them to accomplish the study; they will then be able to determine if such study will attain the goals which they desire to achieve. Based on the needs of the study, a listing of actual service elements will be furnished to the department.