In this time of acute drought, the risk of fire increases in California. Quick and proper reaction by local fire departments can make the difference in keeping damage to a minimum. To keep their skills well-honed, fire fighters need to train and practice. But fire training means using the very resource that’s in short supply: water. Recently, the Coachella Valley Water District was able to help change this equation. CVWD teamed with the Riverside County Fire Department and made available recycled water for the departments to use for training exercises. Wastewater Treatment Plant 10, WRP-10, is a 16 million gallon per day treatment plant located in Palm Desert. The plant take sanitary effluent from local homes and businesses and in 24 hours turns it into recycled water that is used for irrigation on golf courses, a football field and in housing developments. The fire department conducted “pump relay” training at the CVWD plant. Taking water from a fire hydrant that dispenses recycled water, firefighters used hoses to connect five fire engines together to pump the water half a mile to the final truck. Because water pressure was maintained the entire length, the final truck was able to shoot water nearly 100 feet into the air. The final truck recycled the water that was used for training by spraying the water back into a recycled water holding pond. The multi day exercise provide successful. The fire department practiced important skills and the water resource was recycled.

• published: 15 Nov 2014
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