Drafting Tip #12 - More About Carrying Extra Suction Hose
 
By President Mark Davis
August 6, 2015
 

A couple of photos from our 2012 rural water supply seminar in Sumter County, Alabama reinforce the need for carrying more than the traditional 20-feet of suction hose on rural pumpers. The folks from the Cuba FD drafted through 40-feet of suction using their 1,250 gpm commercial chassis pumper. Remember, it is all about the lift and not so much the horizontal run. The set up shown in these photos allowed the 1,250 gpm pumper to load tankers at 1,000 gpm.
 
By using four lengths of suction hose, this 1,250 gpm pumper was able to reach a reliable water source and set up a tanker fill site.
By using four lengths of suction hose, this 1,250 gpm pumper was able to reach a reliable water source and set up a tanker fill site.
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A roof ladder was used to support the suction hose which was equipped with a barrel strainer. The barrel strainer allowed for the best flow capability given the strainers available.
A roof ladder was used to support the suction hose which was equipped with a barrel strainer. The barrel strainer allowed for the best flow capability given the strainers available.