| Grantsville Mayor Curtis Garretson said the WV Public Service Commission advised that the Grantsville Volunteer Fire Department must pay a water bill, the VFD historically has been excluded from paying a water bill.
The issue came to a head when a citizen, who desired to remain anonymous, complained about volunteer firemen washing their personal vehicles at the fire station.
Garretson said he initially responded that the issue should be decided by Fire Chief Craig Gherke, but a further request by a council member continued the issue for a decision about water service to fire departments.
"The WV-PSC instructed that the fire department pay for any water coming through their meter at the fire house. They told me that I didn't have to worry about any back-pay." Garretson said.
James F. Aucremanne, a
Utilities Analyst for the WV-PSC said, "There are misconceptions that fire departments can have free water service at the fire house. Fire departments are considered regular customers just like everyone else and must be billed for the consumption of all water used with the exception of firefighting purposes."
Aucremanne further explained who was responsible for maintenance of fire hydrants, the local water operator, and regulations related to fire departments hauling water to citizens.
Here is Aucremanne's article on water issues and fire departments:
Both the Fire Departments and the Water Utility are vital ingredients in any community that wants to grow and prosper for the future. However, in the time that I have been associated with the Public Service Commission, I have received many questions and comments dealing with this very subject.
"There seems to be a misconception with the fire Department about who is in charge of and responsible for the fire hydrants. I have researched this issue with the State Fire Marshall' s Office and the Bureau of Health. The Water Utility's water plant operator is in charge and responsible for the fire hydrants in all non-firefighting situations. The operator is responsible for flushing the hydrants at least once a year preferably twice a year and to keep the proper records of such.
A second misconception of the Fire Department is that they can have free water service at the fire house. The Fire Department is considered regular customer just like everyone else and must be billed for the consumption of all water used with the exception of firefighting purposes. Even the training of new firefighting techniques which requires the use or consumption of water is billable to the Fire Department.
The Public Service Commission requires water utility to keep records of unaccounted for water. The Utility needs to communicate with the Fire Department that their cooperation is needed to complete the water use report and to arrive at a very accurate figure to file with the Commission.
When the Fire Department either does not understand the reason(s) for the need of the figure of "amount of water used" to fight fire(s) or other uses then the 'Unaccounted For' water percentage that the utility must file, is distorted or inaccurate.
The Utility should approach the Fire Chief or Board of Directors and explain the need for their cooperation to accomplish this task. Most people are willing to cooperate if they are given an explanation. of the reason(s) for the need of the request. I suggest that the utilities' Board of Directors invite the Fire Department's Board of Directors to a meeting to explain their need for the understanding and cooperation to achieve their goal.
The utility needs to develop a policy and possibly a reporting form to account for the amount of water used by the Fire Department monthly. One way is to install a 2" tap with a meter at the fire station, so when the fire truck(s) are filled up the meter can register the amount of gallons that passed through the meter. Another method is to estimate when firefighters use a fire hydrant to either fill up the truck or directly fight the fire from the hydrant.
Fire Departments historically have to raise funds to keep their operations financially solvent. They will haul water waken from a fire hydrant and transport it to fill a citizens swimming pool. The fire department did not pay for the water but received a donation from the citizen for this service. The proper method to handle this situation is for the citizen to go to the utility's office and pay for the amount of water to fill the pool.
The utility will issue a receipt to the citizen and that person will present it to the Fire Dept. who will take the tanker truck to the utility's plant and fill up the tanker. After the tanker has transferred the water and emptied it into the pool the citizen can offer a donation to the Fire Dept. for the transportation of the water.
At times, what becomes a serious problem(s) is when the Fire Dept. just pulls up to a hydrant and takes the water without permission or notification to the utility or the tanker goes into another utility's territory and raids the hydrant(s). That is an unacceptable practice and should not be tolerated.
The Fire Dept. must have a County Health Department permit to haul water for those that request water for a swimming pool.
If a Fire Dept. fails or neglect to secure a permit, then the utility and the Fire Dept. could be held liable if they transport a bacteria in the water supply to the pool.
Tampering with fire hydrant(s) can be very costly from stripping the threads on the caps to placing the hydrant out of service which could be disastrous in the event of a fire. Who is responsible for the repairs on the hydrant(s)? It should be the party who caused the damage, but in reality when it is not reported the utility is ultimately responsible far the repairs.
Both the Fire Department and the Water Utility are a
service-oriented organization for the community and they should strive towards "working together" instead of "working against" each other. There are "power struggles" that exist and that needs to be stopped for the "common good" and survival of the community.
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