Water-Supply Survey

• review various documents and records
• visit all pump facilities
• determine needed fire flows
• usually witness hydrant flow tests
• examine representative hydrants

Here's what you can expect:

Interview
The ISO field representative will review details and records of all water-supply facilities and operations. The representative will examine a current water utility map to identify the locations of:

• new supply or storage facilities
• mains
• pressure zones
• closed or check valves
• hydrants
• new streets

Pump facilities
The ISO field representative will visit all pump facilities to examine the water pumping equipment and the power supplies.

Needed fire flow requirements
ISO will select buildings of various sizes and hazard classifications throughout the community. We will develop needed fire flows for those buildings and use the information to assess water availability and delivery for your community.

ISO has prepared a guide to estimating needed fire flow. The publication is only a guide and requires knowledge and experience in fire-protection engineering for its effective application. You can download a copy of the Guide for Determination of Needed Fire Flow.

Hydrant flow tests
To determine the adequacy of the water-supply, ISO normally witnesses hydrant flow tests at selected locations. ISO will select the locations considering:

• geographic layout of the community
• topographical differences (elevation changes)
• the range of needed fire flows for the buildings in the community

Hydrants
The ISO field representative will evaluate the condition of each hydrant used during the flow testing.

Next: After the Survey

For more information . . .
. . . on any topic related to the PPCTM program or the Fire Suppression Rating Schedule, click Talk to ISO Mitigation, or call the ISO mitigation specialists at 1-800-444-4554.