Water Supply

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Establish Your Emergency Water Supply

Water supply is vital for a fire department to protect a threatened house or extinguishing a burning one. Even a FireWise house may not be able to survive a wildfire without an emergency water supply. Many local governments require new developments to form or become part of a community or municipal water system. In these cases, the designed water systems have large storage facilities that generally meet the needs of firefighters.
 

Your Personal Emergency Water Supply

If you live in a home that is separated from others you may not have access to an adequate community water system. In this case, it is recommended that you develop an individual well or water source that provides suitable storage and fire equipment access. A minimum water storage supply of 2,500 gallons is recommended for use in emergency situations. Cooperation with your neighbors can result in the development of a common emergency water storage facility that can provide protection for your home and several others.
As a last resort, you may need to develop your own well.
 

Access To Your Emergency Water Supply

Once you have established an emergency water supply, you must make sure firefighters can get to it. If your water comes from a well, it is recommended that you have a gasoline-powered generator so firefighters can operate your pump during a power failure.

For any emergency water supply, the outlet valve must be easily seen and visibly signed from the nearest road. You can obtain specific outlet, valve design and thread requirements by contacting your local fire department