Fire Flow Protection: Savings for the Town

Before water improvements financed by the Village water bond, there was no fire flow protection within the pressure zone defined by state regulators for compliance. This pressure zone is located on Church Street, Fitch Hill Road, Eden Street to Main Street (turn right on Main Street) to Parish Hall area on West Main.

• 16 hydrants connected to water mains within the pressure zone were prohibited from use by the Fire Department and could not be opened or disturbed in order to prevent the backflow of contaminants into the drinking water system.

  
  

On April 19, 2022, after replacing the water mains and 16 hydrants within the pressure zone, the Insurance Services Office (ISO) performed tests on 5 hydrants, 4 connected to the water mains within the pressure zone and 1 located at the Fire Station on Centerville Road, as well as the fill pipe for tankers.

• According to our ISO representative, the April 19 results lead to less fire department requirements/expenditures versus requirements/expenditures under a rating for no fire flow protection.

• ISO names this divergence, meaning that the lower the rating, the greater the requirements/expenditures for the fire department. The expenditures are related to many things like equipment and personnel.

• The April 19 rating leads to lower property owner’s insurance cost compared to the cost of insurance derived from a lower rating.

  
  

The new rating will be established by ISO, published and available to more than 120 insurance companies who subscribe to the service.

Learn more about ISO and how it relates to Fire Departments: https://www.isomitigation.com/ppc/fsrs/