Hauling Water - Moosilauke Style
 
By President Mark Davis
May 21, 2015
 

On May 16th and 17th, the Lakes Region Mutual Fire Aid Association's Training Division sponsored our 16-hr Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar which was hosted by the Wentworth VFD in Wentworth, New Hampshire - which is located a the southern end of the White Mountains - a very beautiful countryside. Folks from several nearby towns spent the weekend reviewing the basics of hauling water with tankers - including drafting, dump site operations, and fill site operations. The seminar culminated with the 2-hr water supply drill on Sunday afternoon where the goal was to deliver 500 gpm - sustained - for 2 hrs. instructors for the weekend seminar were Mark Davis and Tom Coe. Many thanks to Chief Ames (Wentworth VFD) and DC John Beland (LRMFA) for the excellent logistical support - it was another fine weekend in New Hampshire!
 
Saturday morning's classroom session reviewed the basics of hauling water in the rural setting.
Saturday morning's classroom session reviewed the basics of hauling water in the rural setting.
A fill site crew works to get a 1,000 gpm set up to load tankers.
A fill site crew works to get a 1,000 gpm set up to load tankers.
 
Wentworth's pumper drafts from the first dump tank.
Wentworth's pumper drafts from the first dump tank.
Offloading from the rear.
Offloading from the rear.
 
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Piermont's tanker dumps its water.
Piermont's tanker dumps its water.
 
Chichester's 2,000 gallon engine/tanker was a water hauler for this drill.
Chichester's 2,000 gallon engine/tanker was a water hauler for this drill.
For units that could not dump water (meaning engines), they pumped off their loads using 4-inch hose and this homemade pipe.
For units that could not dump water (meaning engines), they pumped off their loads using 4-inch hose and this homemade pipe.
 
An engine pumping off its 1,000 gallons of water. It was important to locate this "pumping off station" away from the dump tanks so that the engines would not block out tankers.
An engine pumping off its 1,000 gallons of water. It was important to locate this "pumping off station" away from the dump tanks so that the engines would not block out tankers.
Dual, Holley pipes in action.
Dual, Holley pipes in action.
 
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The final product - a 3-tank operation and 600 fpm.
The final product - a 3-tank operation and 600 fpm.
 
One of two fill sites - a dry hydrant in a river.
One of two fill sites - a dry hydrant in a river.
Loading tankers.
Loading tankers.
 
Using LDH and an LDH manifold to load a 2,000-gallon tanker.
Using LDH and an LDH manifold to load a 2,000-gallon tanker.