Hauling Water - Hawkeye Style
 
By President Mark Davis
April 26, 2018
 

A whole bunch of folks from Johnson County, Iowa and the surrounding areas spent this past weekend honing their water hauling skills by attending our 16-hr Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar. The seminar was sponsored by the Johnson County Mutual Aid Association and was hosted by the Jefferson-Monroe FD and the Solon FD. As usual, the weekend began with a 4-hr classroom review of the best practices related to hauling water with tankers. The remainder of the weekend was spent on the drill ground practicing dump site operations and fill site operations.

The weekend seminar culminated on Sunday with the traditional, 2-hour tanker shuttle drill where participants work to sustain a pre-determined flow without interruption. The 2-hr tanker shuttle exercise was a great success; folks never once ran out of water and were able to establish a peak flow of 800 gpm using six tankers and three engines.

Many thanks to DC Eugene Beard (a long time Member of our website) who was instrumental in pulling off this great weekend of hauling water. Instructors for the weekend were Mark Davis and Tim Legore. A full summary report will be posted in a few weeks.
 
Saturday morning's classroom session in Swisher, Iowa reviewing the best practices of tanker shuttle operations.
Saturday morning's classroom session in Swisher, Iowa reviewing the best practices of tanker shuttle operations.
Some of the attending FDs
Some of the attending FDs
 
Sunday morning's rally point at the Solon FD.
Sunday morning's rally point at the Solon FD.
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Coralville Engine 72 setting up the first fill site using two turbo drafts and an "open-relay" arrangement.
Coralville Engine 72 setting up the first fill site using two turbo drafts and an "open-relay" arrangement.
North Liberty Engine 117 set up a second fill site.
North Liberty Engine 117 set up a second fill site.
 
Dual Turbo Draft supply operation for the Coralville pumper.
Dual Turbo Draft supply operation for the Coralville pumper.
Turbo Draft output fed to a homemade fill pipe fed by 5-inch LDH.
Turbo Draft output fed to a homemade fill pipe fed by 5-inch LDH.
 
The first loading site used 4-inch LDH and cam lock fittings.
The first loading site used 4-inch LDH and cam lock fittings.
A Fol-Da-Tank 6-inch suction elbow in use during Saturday afternoon's practical session.
A Fol-Da-Tank 6-inch suction elbow in use during Saturday afternoon's practical session.
 
Comparing jet siphons during Saturday afternoon's practical session.
Comparing jet siphons during Saturday afternoon's practical session.
One of the "big" water haulers.
One of the "big" water haulers.
 
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Dump tank operations underway at the 2-hr drill on Sunday.
Dump tank operations underway at the 2-hr drill on Sunday.
 
Getting the kinks out.
Getting the kinks out.
A picnic lunch on Sunday provided by the Solon FD.
A picnic lunch on Sunday provided by the Solon FD.
 
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Tiffin Tanker 156 dumps its 2000 gallons of water in an effort to help sustain the 800 gpm sustained fire flow.
Tiffin Tanker 156 dumps its 2000 gallons of water in an effort to help sustain the 800 gpm sustained fire flow.
4-inch cam lock fill connection.
4-inch cam lock fill connection.
 
The firefighter's job was to direct incoming tankers. He used handheld signs that coordinated with dump tank signs.
The firefighter's job was to direct incoming tankers. He used handheld signs that coordinated with dump tank signs.
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Four jet siphons were supplied by two, 2-1/2-inch lines equipped with gated wyes.
Four jet siphons were supplied by two, 2-1/2-inch lines equipped with gated wyes.
Some really good looking jet siphon streams.
Some really good looking jet siphon streams.
 
A second, 6-inch suction line was put into operation...also using a Fol-Da-Tank suction elbow.
A second, 6-inch suction line was put into operation...also using a Fol-Da-Tank suction elbow.