Welcome to the Official Website for GotBigWater.

GotBigWater is the official website of GBW Associates, LLC, a privately owned training, consulting, and design firm located in Westminster, Maryland. Our specialty is water supply for public and private fire protection. We at GBW Associates, LLC are known for our training programs, our dry hydrants, our testing and maintenance services, and our consulting work. Over the years, we have completed projects in over 40 different states ranging from rural water supply seminars to ISO water supply assessments to community master planning.

Use the menu at the left to take a look at our services and to contact us.  Be sure to check out the Big Water Information section for a whole bunch of information on water supply delivery operations.

 Scroll down to see our recent activities, upcoming events, and website updates.

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Be sure to join the Members Area to discuss water supply issues, view our document library, and receive announcement notices concerning our website and our services- it is FREE!

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 UPCOMING GBW TRAINING SEMINARS & COURSES

(Click on the Image to View the Flyer)

Agencies looking to host seminars in 2011 should begin contacting us now!!!

Industry and the Fire Department Working Together in Alabama!

 

Our good friend Chief Spruce McRee of the Brierfield (Alabama) VFD provided this great story of cooperation to us. It seems that one of the big, lumber pressure treatment plants in his area installed a pumping system to fill their 1,500-gallon water truck.  When the system was installed, a 6-inch steamer connection was added for FD access. The pump is a 1,000 gpm pump that is powered by an electric motor and takes draft from a 15-ft deep lake using a floating strainer.  During a recent test, Brierfield filled their 3,000 gallon tanker in 1:14 minutes - that is pretty darn good.  Of course, in colder climates, freezing might be an issue - but this set-up works great for the folks in Alabama.  Great job of cooperation between industry and the fire department!  

View: Drill Summary - Deer Creek, Illinois

View: Ramona Brush Tanker 3 - Ramona, Kansas

View: Tanker 2 - South Salem FD - New York

View: Construction Site Water Supply Operations

View: Tanker 5 - Bedford Hills FD - Bedford Hills, New 

Tanker 5 - 2000 gpm/2750 gallon engine-tanker - Bedford Hills FD

View: Jet Dump Article by Larry Davis

This Jet Dump presentation is from the Archives of Larry Davis. It was unfinished at the time of his passing. However, the content and photos are complete enough for sharing the information. We hope that you enjoy it.

40-hour Pump Operator Course

Here are a few photos from our 40-hour Pump Operator Course that we delivered July 12th-16th in Corpus Christi, Texas for the Refinery Terminal Fire Company.  Some BIG WATER was moved over the four-day program. Above, one of the 3,000 gpm pumpers is used during class to train students how to run a pumper.  Some 8-inch suction hose and 7-1/4-inch supply hose was also in order. We always enjoy our annual visit to Texas.

View: Hydrants Along the Way - June 2010

View:Tanker 1 - Cartersville VFD - Cartersville, Alabama

2,500 gallon tanker - Cartersville VFD

View: Discharge Flow Test Summary - ET19 - Adams County, PA

Flowtesting the discharges on a 1,750 gpm pumper

So how strong is a PVC pipe fitting that has been properly glued?  Pretty darn strong.  When cementing PVC fittings for dry hydrant use, it is important to maximize the contact area of the PVC and the cement.  Shown above are three photos of a schedule 80 PVC slip joint that was properly cemented. The fitting was on a dry hydrant that was being replaced.  The only way that the fitting could be taken apart was to cut it with a reciprocating saw. For kicks, we tried to break the joint with a hammer - the pipe broke after we upgraded to a 10-pound sledge - the cemented joint never broke.  The large photo shows the bond made where the cement was applied to both pieces of the fitting. These photos emphasize the importance of not rushing when putting together PVC components - especially when a FD expects to be able to draw a suction on the pipe. Take your time, apply ample primer, and use a heavy duty PVC cement.

View: RWSOS Drill Summary - Adams County, PA

View:18-Tanker-4 - Plymouth FD - Plymouth, New Hampshire

1500 gpm/2500 gallon engine tanker -Plymouth FD

View: RWSOS Drill Summary - Brierfield Volunteer Fire Rescue - Brierfield, Alabama

View:15-Engine-4  Moultonborough FD - Moultonborough, New Hampshire

15-Engine-4   1,250 gpm Pumper - Moultonborough FD

Snow Plow v. Dry Hydrant/Underground Tank

This is how one of our work crews spent their day - learning that THREE pipes were sheared off at the flange - damage left over from the Blizzard of 2010. This 30,000 gallon underground tank provides fire protection water supply for about 15 homes in Central Maryland.  This is also why a fire department MUST inspect their water supply sites on a frequent basis.

Many folks often ask, "What do I pump to a jet siphon?"  The answer is not a number - the answer is - "You pump it until it looks like this!" - meaning the photo shown above.  When a full and solid stream of water is exiting the end of the suction hose, then you are pumping the jet siphon at the correct pressure.

View: RWSOS Drill Summary - Northern Westchester County, New York

Some fire training from "back in the day!"  The photo is from the archives of Larry Davis and we think it is from the Butler County Fire School (PA) in the early 1970s.  While not really a "big water" event, it is always interesting to remember how we used to do stuff.

View: 21-Tanker-1   Tilton-Northfield FD - Tilton, New Hampshire

1500 gpm/2500 gallon Engine/Tanker - Tilton, New Hampshire

View: 25-Engine - 3  - Strafford FD - Strafford, NH

25-Engine-3   1,750 gpm/3000 gallon Engine/Tanker - Strafford, NH

View: Turbo Draft Flow Tests - Marion County, Kansas - April 2010

Deploying the Turbo Draft in Marion Lake.

View: 9-Engine-3 - Gilmanton FD - Gilmanton, New Hampshire

9-E-3   A 2,000 gpm/2,500 gallon engine/tanker - Gilmanton FD

View: RWSOS Drill Summary - Marion County, Kansas

View: Bridge-Mounted DFH - Lineboro, Maryland

View: Bridge-Mounted DFH - Corydon Township, Pennsylvania

View: Seminar Review

View: Incident Command Seminar Flyer

Download Our Bridge-Mounted Dry Fire Hydrant System Flyer 

Your questions and feedback our important to us!  If you have a question about water supply or pumps or FD stuff in general, join our Members area (for free) to post your inquiry. We will provide our thoughts and perhaps other folks in the field will provide theirs also. 

Also - be sure to sign the guest book if this is your first time here - guestbook.