LETTER: Not Comforted or Assured About Fire Hydrants

Posted on by Post Contributor

I found the PAWSD April 18 newsletter addressing the fire hydrants issue not very comforting or assuring.

FIRE HYDRANT UPDATE
The on-going concern with fire hydrants not being tested in over ten years seems to have been resolved. The PAWSD Board of Directors agreed to hire a hydrant testing contractor, Distribution System Resources Ltd. The Company is licensed and certified and already has the equipment to perform the testing. It is estimated that all hydrants within the district could be inspected in twelve weeks. This provides a big relief to PLPOA residents with the extremely dry winter and insurance companies looking to increase rates.

They claim the issue SEEMS to have been resolved.

They AGREED to hire Distribution Resources in 12 weeks.

They ESTIMATE the hydrants COULD be inspected in twelve weeks

It all sounds pretty indefinite.

The argument that no fire hydrants have ever failed to operate during 30 years of fires in Pagosa Springs is very weak. Same goes for the one stating fire hydrants would do little if there were a forest fire. What about the homes in close proximity to the woods?

Unlike what a news article states, that Justin Ramsey never heard from even “one” PAWSD “constituent”, I sent a letter to him March 13 to which I received no response. I don’t remember who advised me to send a letter vs a phone call, but was told, a letter would be more efficient. Regardless, one would think, if he were not the proper person that he would have passed the buck to the correct one. My letter was addressed to “District Manager Ramsey and Board for PAWSD”.
Note: I also sent an e-mail to [County commissioner] Veronica Medina and an e-mail to [Fire chief] Mr. Bertram the same day. I heard from none.
From my experience of over thirty years in the waterworks industry (although all in Oklahoma), fire hydrants are to be exercised on a yearly basis. This requirement was handled differently by different cities. For example the city of Norman, OK, had a crew of two who exercised and tested and repaired the hydrants. regularly. The city of Midwest City, OK, used the fire department to exercise and test and they in turn would notify the city of needed repairs.
The statement at one time of PLPOA or PAWSD that maybe they could train school teachers or volunteers to check the hydrants is laughable.
Gene Mashburn
Pagosa Springs, CO
Post Contributor

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