Haulin' Water - Connecticut Style - A New Member of the 1,000 gpm Club!

On April 26, more than 50 members of the Broad Brook Fire Department in Connecticut and surrounding areas participated in a two-hour water hauling operation as part of a 16-hour Rural Water Supply Operations Seminar. The crews utilized four engines and eleven tankers to maintain a steady water supply during the exercise. A peak flow of 1,800 gallons per minute was sustained during the final 30 minutes of the drill.

The effort enabled the group to earn membership in the 1,000 GPM Club. This distinction requires units to achieve a flow of 250 gallons per minute within five minutes of arrival, increase to 500 gallons per minute at the 15-minute mark, reach at least 1,000 gallons per minute at the 60-minute mark, and avoid running out of water during the entire operation.

Out of 168 two-hour drills conducted over the years by GBW Associates, the Broad Brook group is only the 17th to attain this membership. The seminar was made possible by the Broad Brook Fire Department, which provided sponsorship and logistical support. The instructors for the weekend were Mark Davis and Alan Butsch.