Vacuum tankers are most efficient in their loading process. The preferred loading process is generally to get the vacuum tanker close enough to the water source so that the rig can self-load using the suction hose it brought to the game. Sometimes, access to the water is limited and you have to figure out how to bring the water closer to the vacuum tanker. We commonly call the process an "open relay" ... (Full Story & Photos)

On Sunday afternoon, September 22nd, about 40 folks from the Lycoming County, Pennsylvania area got together to haul water for 2-hours uninterrupted using 8 tankers and 2 fill sites. The 2-hr drill took place in Montoursville, PA and culminated our 16-hr Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar that was sponsored by the Western Branch Fireman's Association and hosted by the Montoursville FD. The drill ... (Full Story & Photos)

In our seminars, we speak about the pressure limitations on fill lines when loading tankers. Absent a label on the rig, we normally offer 100 psi as the pressure limit at the tank fill inlet. This is in line with most of the poly-tank builders today and we commonly see that pressure limitation number posted on the newer rigs.

The purpose then of this photo is for the folks physically connecting ... (Full Story & Photos)

Our seminar participants know we put a bunch of emphasis on tankers (tenders) being loaded up with usable equipment for dump site and fill site operations. These rigs are like the Snap-on Tool guys making the rounds from service facility to service facility. During our seminar in Caroline County, Maryland we got to see Denton VFC's Tanker 300 in action and were impressed with how they outfitted the ... (Full Story & Photos)

On Sunday, August 25th, about 35 members of the Preston VFC and surrounding fire departments gathered to haul water for about 2-hrs using tankers. The drill culminated our 16-hr Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar that was sponsored and hosted by the Preston VFC located in Caroline County, Maryland. Crews used a combination of nurse tanker and dump tank operations to support a peak flow of just ... (Full Story & Photos)

On August 18th, around 30 members of the Stratham VFD (New Hampshire) and surrounding fire departments got together to haul water with tankers for 2-hrs. The drill was the culmination of our 16-hr Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar that was sponsored and hosted by the Stratham VFD. The seminar was our third visit to Stratham since 2023 and each time the folks have improved on their tanker operation ... (Full Story & Photos)

Nothing fancy here other than a rectangular dump chute....which is something we don't see much in the USA but is somewhat popular with folks in foreign lands. A number of years ago we collaborated with some folks in Chile about dump chute/valve design and their rectangular dump chute seamed to work just fine. The cross-sectional area of the valve was the same or greater than the A H Stock 10" (square) ... (Full Story & Photos)

Earlier this week we finished the installation of another one of our bridge-mount dry fire hydrants in Harford County, Maryland....this time on Poteet Road at the bridge over the East Branch of Winters Run. We have over two dozen bridge mount installations in Harford County; the folks there have worked really hard over the past few years to upgrade their static water sources both in terms of distribution ... (Full Story & Photos)