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Richard Marinucci |
There doesn’t seem to be much use for a five-legged stool, as there would be one or two extra legs that have no use. But when delivering water, there are five parts that must be compatible to deliver water to the fire that is most efficient and effective.
If the components don’t match, there will be deficiencies in the system. If you have the best water supply possible but don’t have the pump capacity to move the water, the supply becomes more insignificant. If your staffing doesn’t allow for enough hands to deliver a larger capacity, then unlimited water and huge pump capacity become less relevant. You should get the picture and need to look at each leg of the delivery system to move water to where it can do the most good.
Most, if not all, fire departments have little to do with the water supply in their community. They probably don’t control the distribution system if there is a municipal department that purifies and pumps the water through a system of pipes. You basically get what they want to deliver. There are exceptions, as some departments are provided an opportunity to comment on new development and the required fire flow and hydrant placement. I don’t mean to discount established standards that take into consideration fire service needs. I am suggesting that once a system is established, it is not under the control of the fire service.
In areas with no fire hydrants or delivery systems, fire departments use tankers/tenders (depending on your terminology in your part of the country), but the source to fill up those tankers is, again, outside the purview of the fire service. If a community does not have the capacity to meet the fire flow needs, then there is an impact on the capabilities of a fire department to be effective and make a difference. How many times have you heard the reason for a building burning down was the lack of fire hydrants or a reliable water supply? Fire service professionals know a sufficient water source is essential for success.
Whether you have a water system with hydrants or a tanker operation with a good source, fire personnel must know the capabilities of the system. They must know how much water could be delivered if the rest of the parts needed to move the water are in place. Departments with municipal supplies need to establish and maintain a good working relationship with their water departments so they know what is available at all times. Even the best systems have downtimes- that is, they require maintenance, pipes break, and the pumps can malfunction. Departments that are aware of these downtimes can make adjustments before the next fire occurs. It is too late to find out a hydrant is out of service after you have laid hose to it.
There are operational as well as budgetary issues to consider. If you do not have the capabilities of delivering a certain amount of water because of restrictions in pump capacity or staffing, then there is a challenge to evaluate the entire process and match up capabilities. You could have a great hydrant and main system, but if you do not have the proper size supply line, you will not get the desired water from the system. If you can get the water delivered to your apparatus but your pump serves as a reducing valve, you may have underspecified your vehicle. Once water is delivered to your apparatus, the equipment, including fittings, appliances, and hose, must be able to handle the capacity.
A suggestion would be to evaluate the entire delivery system-from the source to discharge-