Fill Site Operations #03 - ISO Source Pumper Drill
By President Mark Davis
January 29, 2015
When attempting to receive credit for the "hauled water" feature of ISO's rating process, one of the operations that must be demonstrated is the set up of a tanker fill site. The drill is really pretty simple to complete. A supply source and supply pumper are chosen. Starting 200-feet away from the source, the pumper proceeds to the supply source and sets up a fill site using whatever process that is normally used for such operation in that FD. This evolution is a timed event starting on the ISO's representative's signal at the 200 ft mark and ending when water flow is achieved at the end of the tanker fill hose. Obviously, speed and precision are the key factors in this operation. Therefore, it is best for companies to practice and fine tune their drafting operations prior to ISO's visit.
The photos in this News Story are from Montgomery County, Maryland where a few years ago they lowered their ISO rating in their non-hydranted areas by demonstrating their ability to "haul water."
With the engine staged 200-ft away from the water source, the stopwatch is started.
As soon as the engine arrives at the source, the four-person engine crew goes to work setting up to draft and fill tankers.
The site of this drill was a bridge overtop of the Patuxent River at the Howard County border.
While these two fellows got the suction hose ready, the other half of the crew worked on setting up a fill line.
100-ft of 4-inch hose was used to supply a jumbo wye that was used as the loading control valve.
With the suction hose in place in the river, drafting operations commenced.
The supply line to the wye was charged and time stopped.
The engine's pre-piped deck gun was used to keep water moving (back into the river) when no tankers were present for loading.
