Dump Site Operations #09 - Supporting Jet Siphons
 
By President Mark Davis
May 14, 2015
 

When running a multiple dump tank operation and using multiple jet siphons, a need often arises for another pumping unit to supply some of the jet siphons - simply due to pump capacity issues. This issue most commonly occurs when a smaller capacity pumper (1,250 gpm or less) is used as the dump site pumper and fire flows are needed in the 1,000 gpm range. Because jet siphons consume pump capacity, a 1,000 gpm pumper may struggle to pump 1,000 gpm to the fire and supply two jet siphons at the same time. At this water supply drill in Ottawa, Kansas - a grass fire rig was used to supply a jet siphon, thus freeing the 1,000 gpm dump site pumper to obtain a support a higher fire flow.