Subject: Re: Fire hydrant from farm pond?

From: [email-masked] (Dennis Gabler)
Date: 13 Jan 1995 19:53:51 GMT

What you need is a dry hydrant.

This is a section of large 4" pvc that has holes drilled in it which lays in the
pond.  Usually you dig a trench from the shore into the pond, then lay this
perforated pipe into the trench with the perforations free and clear in the
water.  At the shore end you place a 90 degree elbow and bring a section of pipe
vertically out of the ground.  Then at this end you place a fitting that the
FD can get thier hard suction hooked onto.  

You might also in touch with the fire chief, he/she may have the plans and
they might even help you install it.  As one who has fought many rural fires
it would be nice to have.  They could probably use a water source out where you 
are for your neighbors fires too.  The way this thing works is that the fire 
pump draws water thru it, but if there is no suction the pipe stays dry.  Hence
the name "dry hydrant".

-- 
Dennis Gabler    --o--------------------------=o=--------------------------o--
[email-masked]	     KB5HVN____________|

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From: [email-masked] (Dave Miller)
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 1995 17:11:37 GMT

In <what?[email-masked]>, what? (Charlie Johnston) writes:
>
>We have what I am sure is a common rural situation where the volunteer
>fire squads are some distance away.  Our pond (about an acre or so)
>is about, oh, a football field away (or so) and is at roughly the
>same elevation as the house.  I've seen hydrants set on the backside
>of farm pond dams - presumably these could be used for fire fighting,
>at least anything downhill....hmmm...
>
>Anyone (like volunteer firemen) have any thoughts about the utility
>of running a 3" pipe (or so) towards the house for emergency purposes?
>
>Thanks!   ...charlie

 Charlie: It's nice to see someone thinking ahead! Ask your local FD to
come out and look at your situation. Hopefully, they have pumper engines
which can draft <suck> the water from your pond.

 They'll probably be glad to assess your pond and probably show it in their
map books as a source for water in your neighborhood.

 We've had people install water lines which were not large enough or had
the wrong type of connectors on them. Their is a specific size and thread
type for FD connection.

 Again, call your local FD and ask. You and they will be GLAD you did.

 Regards, Dave
_______________________________________________________
  Dave Miller                         [email-masked]                                                     
  
  Marysville, WA USA                EMT-I, IV & Airway Tech   
_______________________________________________________

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From: [email-masked] (Richard A. De Castro)
Date: Sat, 14 Jan 1995 17:46:34 GMT

>of running a 3" pipe (or so) towards the house for emergency purposes?

Make it a 4 or 5 inch pipe, with the pickup up off the bottom, and a strainer
on it.  Paint the standpipe (the end near your house) red, and of course
put a standard FD threaded coupling on it (ask the FD what standard they
use, it may not really be the standard), and then rest a bit easier at
night. 

Also, you might invite them out to your place for a drill sometime, to
let them try it out.

Most rural FD's have gas engine driven pumps they can use to draft water
out of ponds and streams, but if they can connect their trucks pump 
to a pipe, they can put more of the wet stuff on the red stuff.  And,
I'm an old time firefighter, that's my prefered mode of attack.

-- 
============================================================================
[email-masked]      Warning:  I am a trained professional.  No, Really!
Rick N6RCX EMT-A ATP MA  Do Not try this yourself - it could get ugly......
Richard A. De Castro -   As long as the Government pretends to protect me,
			 I'll pretend to feel safe - NOT!
     -Don't Tread On Me!-
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