The Social Network & Community JUST for Firefighters
Need Help: Hydrant Usage Fees
All,
My volly department has run into an issue that I'm needing some guidance with. It pertains to water billing. My department has been receiving 2 water bills for years (1) for water usage at the station and (2) for hydrant usage, water used for fire, and hydrant maintenance. I believe that the older board of directors believed that this was a common thing and we've always paid roughly $500/mo for these items. Recently, our town water was taken over by Aqua Indiana (a.k.a. Aqua America) and our rates have sky rocketed. Our new bill for the hydrants and water usage is $1,900/mo.. Being such a small department with a small budget, we're unsure how we will be able to pay this bill and still operate. If we continue to pay this amount, our annual budget will be spent in 11 months. We've been told by our department attorney that there isn't a lot that can be done. I strongly disagree with that, but I'm no attorney. So I suppose were I'm going with this is, I'd like to know if there are any other departments out there that pay this same sort of fee out of your budget? If so, what types of fees do you pay and whats the rough size of your area. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Ed
My volly department has run into an issue that I'm needing some guidance with. It pertains to water billing. My department has been receiving 2 water bills for years (1) for water usage at the station and (2) for hydrant usage, water used for fire, and hydrant maintenance. I believe that the older board of directors believed that this was a common thing and we've always paid roughly $500/mo for these items. Recently, our town water was taken over by Aqua Indiana (a.k.a. Aqua America) and our rates have sky rocketed. Our new bill for the hydrants and water usage is $1,900/mo.. Being such a small department with a small budget, we're unsure how we will be able to pay this bill and still operate. If we continue to pay this amount, our annual budget will be spent in 11 months. We've been told by our department attorney that there isn't a lot that can be done. I strongly disagree with that, but I'm no attorney. So I suppose were I'm going with this is, I'd like to know if there are any other departments out there that pay this same sort of fee out of your budget? If so, what types of fees do you pay and whats the rough size of your area. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Ed
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by BillySFCVFD on
-
My VFD pays zero for water, whether at the station, filling our trucks or hydrant use. We must advice the Special Utilities District (Water Co.) of our major water usage (gal. used) so they know where it's going. It seems absurd to me that any FD, especially a VFD, should have to pay for a drop of water provided it's not wasted. I agree in letting your citizens know about your crisis and let the fur fly until you get water for free or at least at a reasonable rate. TCSS
-
Permalink Reply by Spanner 122 on
-
Ed, no idea; but best profile picture ever.
Now back to your regularly scheduled conversation.
-
Permalink Reply by Ben Waller on
-
Paul, with all due respect, using a tanker shuttle when hydrants are available doesn't make sense.
I've worked a department that had an ISO-rated water supply system based on a tanker shuttle.
They were so used to it that they set it up 150 feet - yes 150 FEET - from a 1,400 GPM hydrant on a well-involved duplex fire. I was an Assistant Chief with that department at the time. Some of the tanker disciples looked at me like I was from Mars when I had the 2nd due engine lay parallel supply lines and hook up to the essentially endless water supply.
If you are implying that the fire department should take out their dispute with the water company on the next poor homeowner who has a fire (poor water supply using a tanker shuttle with hydrants available), that's not an appropriate tactic, and it will likely backfire on anyone who tries it.
If the hydrants are available, use the hydrants and find a way to either work out the dispute with the water company or bill the water company so much for fire services that the economic pendulum will swing in the fire department's favor.
-
Permalink Reply by Rusty Mancini on
-
Just when you thought you've heard it all, well this one is definitely at the top of the list. Ed, take Ben's advise, bill them a fee that would be an eye opener along with a Haz-mat hazard fee. They will come to the o-crap conference with a change of heart!!!
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Dudan on
-
Ben I absolutely agree with you. We are all in this for one reason and that is the citizens and their property we protect. There are those out there (yes even my own dept) who moan and complain because the chief was able to knock down fire with an extinguisher or a passer by stomped out a grass fire; just because they wanted to see big fire or had nothing better to do. In reality, I hope, they would do the same things because thats what the fire service is here for. Myself and my line officiers would never let something like my first situation occur, no matter how big the beef between the water company or whoever is. It was simply to point out the mere insanity in the situation.Thats where my second opinion kicks in.
Thanks and Stay safe
-
Permalink Reply by FF Nick on
-
If you can't get any headway with your board or alderman, see if their homeowner insurance would reimburse for water use. If you don't have an ISO, you should be eligible for reimbursement from the insurance. Typically it's around 100 clams (down here in MS at least it is) but you're also able to request and get more if you can justify, and I think 1900/mo is good justification. I'd exhaust the board and media first though before going this route though. I too also think it's absurd that a fire department is charged for useage during an emergency!
I am curious though as to just how much water on hydrants you use a month, 1900 is a ridiculously high amount. Either ya'll have a sh*t ton of fires or do a lot of training. I'd hope that at that much a month you don't just let hydrants run for no sh*ts and giggles. lol
-
Permalink Reply by Kevin Burks on
-
we have two 10,000 gal storage tanks next to our firestation that is hooked into our water line. we try to use this all of the time when we need to fill the trucks during or after a call. we even use it during a call to fill our tanker witch holds 3,000 gallons if we are having to shuttle water to fill drop tanks. if we use a hydrant we write it on the incident report and keep track of water that way.
-
Permalink Reply by Paul Montpetit on
-
a little creative billing on your part may remedy this....Lets see.....Oh, you want fire coverage...?? Hmm...that will be...$$$$$$ or else their insurance rates go through the ceiling....and don't forget to pay them "special" attention when you do your code inspections... and I am sure that they have a number of chemical stored there for water treatment...chlorine being one.....that should bring a little something extra.....and also go to your town/village/city board and discuss this with them....maybe they can add a few bills or tax them accordingly.....Paul
-
Permalink Reply by Shaun Hansen on
-
I really dont understand this... Our town pays for our water usage at the station. As far as hydrant usage goes. How do they meter the amount of water that is discharged from them on a call. If you are using a direct connection from a well source or water tower there is real no way of tracing the amount of water used. Its like the gas companies charging us for the gas that come to our house that is in the lines under the roads and out to to the pipeline. How can they possibly trace that amount and put a numeric price to it.. Is it a accual useage amount billed or are they just charging per hydrant in your area( a base price).. It pretty sad when certain business professional like these stoop to that level of greediness. What happens to the hydrants if you fail to pay. Do they get shut off? If so there should be something that the homeowners insurance companies could do for the fire service, to protect the properties.. All I can say is I feel for you brother. Sound like you have a battle ahead of you.. I wish you luck...
- ‹ Previous
- 1
- 2
- Next ›
© 2024 Created by Firefighter Nation WebChief.
Powered by
