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Swimming Pools as an Emergency Water Source
The above blue background swimmer icon is the national standard for identifying where a swimming pool is located or other static water sources that are used for swimming. In the event of an earthquake or an urban interface fire, seeking alternative water sources is always going to be a priority for all of us. Swimming pools is a real good option to have pre-planned for using as an alternative water source.
Getting water to the fire can occur using a several different options; but this post focuses on using swimming pools as the primary water source and provides a refresher to help detemine the volume of water (Gallons) available for fire suppression activities. In a prior post called Wildland Urban Interface Firefighting Water Supplies other means of transferring water from a variety of water source was explored.
In some cases, swimming pools may be provided with a bottom gravity fed outlet to a Jones heads or other means for gaining access to the swimming pool water. In these situations an example sign is provided with a red background hydrant that signifies that there is a pool draft location.
What is the average pool size?
Examples include:
15 x 30 x 5 x 7.5 = 16,875 gallons
16 x 32 x 5 x 7.5 = 19,200 gallons
20 x 40 x 5 x 7.5 = 30,000 gallons
20 x 40 x 9 x 7.5 = 54,000 gallons
Formula: Length x Width x Average Depth x Shape Factor = # Gallons
How much water is in a swimming pool?
Below are equations to help you calculate the approximate number of gallons for pools of various shapes.
Circular Pools: For pools with straight sides, multiply the pool diameter by itself (square the diameter). Then multiply that amount by its average depth in feet. Multiply the results by 5.9.
Oval Pools: For pools with straight sides, multiply full width by full length, by average depth in feet. Then multiply by 5.9.
Rectangular Pools: Multiply the length by the width by the average depth in feet. Then multiply by 7.5.
Irregular Pools: Figuring these are a bit more difficult. If you cannot get the number of gallons from a pool contractor, you can get the approximate figure by dividing the overall shape into smaller geometric forms including: squares, rectangles, circles or ovals - and figuring the gallons in each. Then add them together.
How much water would the fire department use out of our pool?
For engine companies that are equipped with floating pumps, the pump output can be anywhere from 60 to 150 GPM. Thirty minutes of pumping at 150 GPM would equal roughly 4,500 gallons. With a pool capacity in the thousands of gallons, firefighters have reported using about two to three inches of water out of the pool before moving on when conducting bump and roll urban wildland tactics.
Engine companies use the pool water to accomplish fire protection. Once the fire passes through, the engine company leaves to provide protection for other threatened structures. This results in small quantities of water being used out of swimming pools. Typical water storage capacity for an engine company is five hundred gallons.
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by mike wright on
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WOW there is alot of information to think about. Here our motto is if we need it now we will replace it later. We have been told by our chief that if we need water that bad to find it and use it. This means if we have to draft out of your pool then by all means do it. Most people around here wouldnt care if we did this to save a house. In the end we would come back and refill the pool so they wouldnt have to do themselves. As far as all the formulas to figure out how much water is in the pool, why does it matter some water right now is better than no water, You can always call in for more tankers for water support.
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Permalink Reply by Harry Faulk Jr on
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Insurance companies hate to see swimming pools go because the troubles that could happen with them by kids but like to see them for fire protection because depending on the size it makes a dependable water source to save them insurance pay out. Knowing the size and amount of water means alot in the decision of calling in more tankers, because the command needs to know how long they have before it runs out and the tankers are on scene.
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Permalink Reply by T.J. on
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very good Mike, we do this too and if we help fill up pools for anyone then they sign off giving up permission to use it in an emergency:)
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Permalink Reply by Justin Buck on
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we have drafted out of a pool once
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Permalink Reply by Tony P on
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Nice and simple for us. They have water? We can take it. If what we take is their drinking water, or stock water, they'll get it back.
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Permalink Reply by Michael Vito on
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Hello mike, yes swimming pool is one of the best alternative water source. And in our case unfortunately that our hydrants are very too far apart in our city in Pasig, Philippines. We actually did it in fire operations. A big mansion house with a fully involve 2nd floor. We ran out of water and even the supply engines and tankers at the rear ran out too. So we improvise on scene. Detached the rabbit pump from a mini-pumper. It was heavy in which took us 5 people to carry it upstair on the elevated pool at the rear of the burning house. We drafted from the pool and attached Y-gate at the pump and deployed two lines to the fire. The water is plenty, the size of the pool is 10 feet wide and 20 feet length, 5 to 8 feet deep. We just consumed 2 feet of water and bought us more time for the other engines to be resupplied by incoming engines.
The funny thing is, my engineer was wishing that he wanted to see it happen in real fire ground operations. That it was theoretically possible. He got his wish!
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