Static Water Supply Sources

1. Static Water Supply Sources Sugar Land Fire Department Driver/Operator-Pumper Academy October 2000

2. Static Water Supply Sources

3. Common Terms • Drafting • Lift • Vacuum • Atmospheric Pressure • Theoretical Lift • Maximum Lift • Dependable Lift

7. Static Water • Large natural static water supply sources are generally not a major adequacy issue. • Receding tides and periods of draught can sometimes limit accessibility to large natural static water supply sources • The water level of small streams and ponds may drop below the usable level during periods of draught.

8. Static Water • Several conditions may make the water source inaccessible to the pumper: • Bridges that are too high above the water’s surface • Bridges that will not support the weight of fire apparatus • Extremely high banks • Terrain that will not allow the apparatus close enough to reach the water with intake hoses. • Wet or soft ground approaches can trap the apparatus, effectively blocking access to the water source: • Grass and vegetation can hide soft spots

9. Static Water • After a vehicle stops for a period of time, settling may occur; personnel and towing apparatus will then have to be called to free the stuck vehicle • Frozen ground that allows the apparatus to be safely driven across at first may later thaw out and cause the apparatus to sink in place • Heat from the apparatus exhaust and warm water in the apparatus water tank spilling onto the ground can cause frozen ground to thaw • If the apparatus is in an effective position and pumping water when the sinking starts to occur, operations, should continue until the need for water has ended. • Soft terrain in favorable weather conditions includes land that is very marshy or that has a high sand content.

10. Static Water

11. Static Water • A number of operational problems are presented by static water supply sources that contain excess silt and debris: • Clogging the strainer, resulting in reduced water intake • Seizing-up or damaging fire pumps • Clogging fog stream nozzles • All hard intake lines should have strainers attached when drafting from a natural source.

13. Static Water

15. Frozen Ponds & Lakes • Barrels • Wooden plugs • Hole in Ice

17. Private Water Storage Tanks • Commonly found on residential, industrial, and agricultural properties • Range in size from several hundred to many thousands of gallons • May not be totally full at all times • Should be identified and capacity noted in pre-incident planning • Should not be unduly relied on by fire department personnel • Should be equipped by the owners with appropriate hardware for fire department connections

18. Ground Reservoirs • Most commonly found on commercial or industrial properties and at municipal water treatment • Typically contain many millions of gallons of water • Tend to be more accessible than regular ponds or lakes • May commonly be accessed by improved roads servicing one or more sides • May be outfitted with dry hydrants or water may be drawn using standard drafting operations

19. Agriculture Irrigation System

20. Swimming Pools