A recycling device that’s capable of simulating a free flowing fire hose — without wasting water — will be the main feature of a Riverside Fire Department drill next week attended by the mayor, fire chief and other city officials.
The agency’s new “PumpPod” will be unveiled during a demonstration exercise scheduled for Tuesday morning at the city’s Emergency Operations Center on Saint Lawrence Street.
The recirculation system was acquired by the fire department thanks to a $3 million California Department of Water Resources grant administered by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
“PumpPod is a closed system which recaptures and re-circulates the full-flowing water used during firefighter training, saving an estimated 3.5 to 4.5 million gallons of water per year,” according to a municipal statement.
The system comes with a stand-alone training fire hydrant that’s able to feed water on an uninterrupted basis. According to Sylmar-based PumpPod USA, the supplier, the unit is capable of delivering just over 2,000 gallons of water per minute.
It’s portable, enabling crews to train on it wherever they may be — sparing them the need to travel to training facilities.
Three to four engine crews are able to utilize the system at the same time, creating further efficiencies, officials said.
The Orange County Fire Authority and Ventura County Fire Department, along with the Los Angeles Fire Department, have acquired PumpPod systems. Additional units are slated for delivery elsewhere statewide.
“By enabling realistic firefighter training while continuously re-circulating water, PumpPod protects scarce water resources, reduces operational costs and enhances public safety, without compromise,” according to a company statement.
The apparatus can be viewed at pumppodusa.com/.