UC Davis: Fire Department
July 16, 2009
RE: Fire Hydrant Group Flow Testing
Every year the Fire Department conducts individual and group flow tests of the approximately 220 fire hydrants on campus to confirm pressure and volume. In the interest of water conservation and landscape maintenance, firefighters will take special precautions to ensure water flow and landscape disruption is kept to the absolute minimum.
The group flow test of hydrants in key campus locations are conducted to evaluate the ability of the water system to provide large volumes of water during a major fire. These tests are conducted to simulate a maximum demand situation. The tests are scheduled to take place between 1:00 P.M. and 5:00 P.M. on August 3, 4 and 6, 2009. Should events occur which prevent us from conducting the tests on any of these dates, the tests will be conducted August 17, 18 and 20, 2009.
Though the Fire Department and the Utilities Division will take mitigating actions, your department might observe some discoloration in the domestic and industrial water service immediately following the test due to agitation of sediment in the water mains. We regret any temporary changes in water quality you might experience, but hope you will agree it is in the best interest of the campus to confirm our readiness for a major fire.
Please direct any questions regarding these tests to the University Fire Department at 530-752-1236.
Weston Arvin
Assistant Chief - Fire Marshal
Directive 09-026