HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 03121996 - C56 C.54, C.55, and
C.56
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on March 12, 1996 , by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Rogers, DeSaulnier, Torlakson and Smith
NOES: None
ABSENT: Supervisor Bishop
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT: Correspondence
C. 54 LETTER dated February 23, 1996, from Vivian and Howard Naftzger, 133 Purdue Avenue,
Kensington, CA 94708, questioning the interpretation of zoning requirements and the
issuance of a building permit for the construction of a house at 126 Purdue Avenue,
Kensington.
****REFERRED TO DIRECTOR COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
C.55 LETTER dated February 22, 1996, from Ralph Hoffmann, Mental Health Commission, 595
Center Avenue, Suite 200, Martinez, CA 94553-4639, requesting support for the proposed
affordable housing project for person with AIDS to be located in Pacheco.
****ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT
C.56 LETTER and REPORT dated February 23, 1996, from John Wyro, President, Orinda Fire
Protection District, 33 Orinda Way, Orinda, CA 94563, transmitting copies of the Orinda
Water Supply Report and a Status Report to the Commission regarding water supply.
****REFERRED TO CHIEF, CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
IT IS BY THE BOARD ORDERED the above recommendations as noted (****) are approved.
c.c. Correspondents
Community Development Director
Chief, Contra Costa Fire Protection District I hereby certify that this Is a true and correct copy of
County Administrator an action taken and entered on the minutes of the
Board of Su 09 on t e date show
ATTESTED: .-9 . —
PHIL BATCHELOR,Clerk of the Boar
of Supervisors and ounty Administrator
8 ,Deputy
Orimida Are Protectim District
33 ORINDA WAY, ORINDA, CA 94563 (415) 254-1110
February 28, 1996
Board of Supervisors
Contra Costa County
651 Pine Street
Martinez, CA 94553
Dear Members of the Board:
An issue that has attracted our attention is the condition of the water supply system in Orinda.
Based on the attached reports and memo updating the situation by Captain Lamm, of our
department, we are very concerned about developing a strategy to deal with what could prove to
be a very hazardous situation in our community in the event of a fire. This concern is based not
only,looking at our position in light of the recent designation as a high fire hazard area under the
Bates bill, or the Oakland hills fire, but also potentially serious conditions within several
neighborhoods in the event of a single structure fire.
The attached reports on water supply in Orinda are presently being discussed at our meetings and
with the City Council of Orinda. They point out serious issues we feel must be addressed by the
community. We are exploring avenues to disseminate the information as well as funding
solutions to deal with the problem. We would like to put this topic on the first available agenda
to get the input of the board as to their thoughts on the best approach to deal with the issue.
Very truly yours,
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
Wyro
President
JW:cjl
Enclosures
Orinda Water Supply Report
Memo: Status Report to Commission re: Water Supply
cc: Orinda City Council
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. 4
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
33 ORINDA WAY
ORINDA, CA 94563
(510) 253-4293
FAX 254-8726
MEMO
TO: Orinda Fire Commission
FROM: Capt. Willis Lamm - � •--^� .
DATE: February 13, 1996
SUBJECT: Status Report to Commission re: water Supply
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Issues:
We still have a problem regarding the City Engineer's unusual (and
apparently excessive) charges to EBMUD for encroachment permits and permit
fees. As of this date EBMUD is still holding up projects originally
scheduled for Orinda. Since they are under extreme pressure to wring out
the maximum amount of results from their limited pipeline replacement
budget, they are focusing on communities which are more cooperative and
cost effective to do projects in.
T have .recently spent considerable time on the phone with the various
primary parties and expect a meeting to, be held during the week of February.
19 in which this issue will (hopefully).`be resolved. I have been advised
that the number of EBMUD pipeline replacement projects held in "backlog"
for Orinda has now increased to 15 . This issue is a high priority as we
certainly want our projects to be included among "projects completed"
rather than be relegated to EBMUD' s "shortfall list.
Community Study:
I have checked with Henry Saar regarding the status of funding the study.
I hope to have an answer of some kind by the 27th. The actual funds would
come from the U.S . Fire Commission and we could qualify for them based on
FEMA' s determination after the Oakland Firestorm that this region is at
high risk. Henry indicates that his request in behalf of the fire district
is presently working its way through the system, has not yet been denied,
but may have a long way to go before approval.
Regarding generating our own funding, the complete cost of a valid study in
Orinda which would have significant value could run upwards to $ 200, 000 .
The more I inquired, the more arguments I found against spending money on
some form of lesser, "generalized" study which would not contribute
00
measurably to the foundation design and cost accounting necessary to form a
basis for an assessment district, bond or other official funding scheme.
Our problem is this; due to the complexity and number of pressure zones in
Orinda, separate flow models would have to be developed for each zone which
collectively generate significant costs. Since we are concerned to some
degree with every zone in Orinda, we cannot accurately cost out needed
improvements and thus establish refined cost/benefit priorities without
modeling each one of our 14 pressure zones, plus their sub-zones .
EBMUD is already in the process of completing its own multi-million dollar
hydraulic modeling system which is expected to be operational in April,
1997 . They intend to model every zone in their system which, of course,
would include all of Orinda. It is arguable that the best bang for our
buck would be to budget $ 20, 000 in FY 1996/97 to augment EBMUD staffing in
order to get Orinda' s data entered on a first priority basis. EBMUD has
implied that they should be willing to expedited data entry these costs
with us since they need to eventually enter the data anyway. The most time
consuming aspect of this data entry is the codification of pipeline data
which will be performed by EBMUD' s Mapping and Graphics personnel .
While data is being entered into the modeling system, we can get a handle
on the cost of an engineer to manipulate the model (play "what if") to
determine the best locations for, and types of, improvements. Engineering
evaluations will not be likely before FY 1997/98, so if we need to
contribute a portion to that effort, we will have sufficient time to budget
accordingly. (EBMUD has suggested that if Orinda is seriously interested
in something on the order of the Rockridge improvement district, they will
internally prioritize as much as they can to expedite data entry and
engineering evaluations, thereby reducing potential_ sharecosts to the Fire
District. )
Meanwhile we can, ourselves, accurately estimate the costs of upgrading
obsolete hydrants ($ 500 x number needed) and for new installations in
inadequately covered areas ($ 5, 000 x number needed) .
Here are some rough, preliminary calculations:
UPGRADING OBSOLETE HYDRANTS TO CURRENT ISO STANDARDS:
252 Hydrants @ $ 500 . 00 $ 127, 000
UPGRADING DRY BARREL HYDRANTS TO CURRENT ISO STANDARDS :
2 Hydrants @ $ 4, 500 .00 $ 9, 000
FILLING IN EXCESSIVE DISTANCES BETWEEN HYDRANTS:
115 Hydrants @ $ 5, 000 .00 $ 575, 000
The counts of hydrants needing upgrades are very accurate. "Fill-ins" are
based on an old survey. I can call for a set of updated maps and re-survey
gaps in hydrant coverage. I could have a complete list (by street) and
illustrative map prepared for your March meeting.
Rockridge Assessment District:
The Rockridge area water supply improvements in Oakland include about
14, 000 feet of pipeline replacement designed to improve the fire flows of.
most hydrants in the area to a minimum of 1500 GPM. The total project is
costing about $ 2 .5 million which is being shared by three entities, the
City of Oakland, EBMUD and the Rockridge Assessment District. The
Rockridge Assessment District includes about 750 property owners who are
paying an annual assessment of about $ 135 .00 for each parcel over the life
of the bond.
The cost sharing model for Rockridge was based on its unique area-specific
conditions. While the same cost-sharing logic would apply to Orinda,
determination would need to be made as to specifically which pipelines
warrant replacement or relining, and calculations made as to the percentage
of accelerated depreciation the community would be expected to pay before
we could estimate the actual EBMUD / Local cost ratio applicable to our
improvements.
In summary, here is what took place in Rockridge:
THE SCOPE GYRAL DETAILS OF THE PROJECT
1. The public interest and need for improvements was identified.
2 . An assessment district was identified (boundaries established) .
3 . Schematic improvement plans and specifications were prepared.
4 . It was established that all improvements made would be in accordance
with the final improvement plans and .specifications as prepared by
EBMUD and apportionment of costs was determined.
5 . It was agreed that partial funding would be accomplished through legal
formation of a special assessment district and subsequent issuance of
bonds, and that EBMUD and the City would fund the balance needed.
6. The City of Oakland had jurisdiction over forming and confirmation of
the special assessment district, its provisions and proceedings.
7 . The City of Oakland and EBMUD entered into certain cooperative
agreements relative to permits, establishing rights of way,
inspections, etc. , relative to the project.
FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN OF THE ROCKRIDGE PROJECT
Fire hydrant improvements : $ 131, 500
Pipeline improvement work: $ 2,411, 810
Total Rockridge project estimate: $ 2, 543, 310
EBMUD share: $ 511, 000
City of Oakland share: $ 1, 145, 800
Assessment District share: $ 886, 510
How Rockridge Compares to Orinda:
The entire Rockridge assessment area had both deficient fire hydrants and
water mains. Orinda has one advantage that while we have a number of areas
with deficient water mains, most neighborhoods have problems with obsolete
hydrants and/or inadequate numbers of hydrants which are much less
expensive problems to mitigate. This circumstance should reduce our per
parcel cost for a wide area improvement project.
Rockridge had significant financial participation from the City of Oakland.
We are not sure if or how much the City of Orinda will participate.
The Basic Concept of an Orinda Improvement District:
Most of Orinda would be included in a broad scale improvement district.
Only a few subdivisions, such as the Orinda Downs, Orindawoods and
Castlegate, were constructed to current fire flow standards. Even most
neighborhoods with "blue top" hydrants have problems with hydrant spacing
and older hydrant styles which are considered deficient.
Cursory estimates (based gn a great number of unproven assumptions) place
total pipeline improvement costs at anywhere between $ 2 .5 million and
$ 5 .1 million. (Figures are extremely hard to refine without accurate
modeling, and the range itself may be inaccurate.)
For the purpose of a hypothetical exercise and to work with round numbers,
let' s assume pipeline improvement costs come in at $ 5 .0 million, EBMUD
will .determines that its share of costs is 4016, and the community will have
to finance fire hydrant upgrades (which are not EBMUD' s responsibility) .
Here is how the numbers might look without City financial involvement:
Community Share; Pipeline Improvements: $ 3,500,000
Community Costs; Hydrant Upgrades: $ 711, 000
Interest and Administrative Costs.: $ 600. 000
Community Share Total : $ 4, 811, 000
Share divided by 4, 000 parcels = $ 1,200, 000
(or $ 120 per year over ten years)
Again I .must stress that these numbers are purely hypothetical, however in
a worst case scenario, with actual replacement costs on the high side and
EBMUD participation on the low side, I feel that the per parcel cost to
residents would be less than $ 1500 .00 .
Where do We Go from Here?
1. The Fire Commission should continue to engage the City Council and
determine their level of participation, and also to apply pressure to
resolve the permit fee impasse.
2 . Water Supply should continue to meet with, and inform, the
neighborhood participants interested in water supply improvements.
' f J
3 . Water Supply will generate from our local data base a specific list of
hydrants needing improvement and plot them on a map.
4 . If requested to do so, Water Supply will conduct a new survey of
hydrant spacing and generate a specific list of new hydrants needed
and plot them on a map. (Note: The amount of staff time required to
conduct the survey will require reprioritizing of activities. Thus I
would only pursue this task if the information is actually desired by
the Commission. )
5 . Establish a 112310" expenditure line in the Water Supply budget to fund
accelerated data entry in EBMUD' s modeling system and appropriate
$ 20, 000 for it.
6. Continue to exploit "small step" solutions while developing and
addressing the "big picture" .
Hydrant Flow Testing:
Attached are fire hydrant testing statistics as of the end of 1995 for all
agencies served by EBMUD. As you can see, we have tested just over one-
half of our total hydrants and we are #2 in overall testing performance of
all the EBMUD fire service agencies. (Moraga uses their reserves for
testing so they have a slight edge on us. )
We typically test each spring in conjunction with annual hydrant
maintenance, so we should increase our test count to 575 by June of this
year. We have 661 hydrants which need to be included in EBMUD' s hydraulic
model data. The remaining 86 hydrants which we need to test will be
tackled in early 1997; in sufficient time to be turned in to EBMUD by the
time they are ready for the data.
We have taken an aggressive position on hydrant flow testing in order to
ensure that our data will be ready for entry when it is needed, and this
should put us well ahead of other agencies who have not gotten around to
performing their tests. . . unless they involve themselves in a last minute
flurry!
I will be happy to discuss these and other issues at the February 27th
meeting.
Attachments : Rockridge Agreement
EBMUD Fire Agency Hydrant Testing Report
es6
� Orinda
Water Supply
�
Report
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
WATER,SUPPLY REPORT
November 20, 1991
Revised November 7, 1995
TOPIC No. : DESCRIPTION:
i. FOREWORD TO FIRE COMMISSION
1. WATER SUPPLY MISSION
2. EBMOD;WATBR DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
3. WEAR DISTRIBUTION AREAS
AREAS WITHOUT HYDRANT SERVICE
LOW VOLUME AREAS
LOW PRESSURE AREAS
DEAD END MAINS
REGULATOR ZONES
POOR HYDRANT SPACING
4. SPECIAL OPERATIONS
S. PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
G. WATERSHED WATER SUPPLY
7. HYDRANT MARKINGS
8. DISTRICT MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
9. WATER DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLAN
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20, 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
FOREWORD
To the Commissioners of the Orinda Fire Protection District:
This report has been drafted to provide you and other interested parties with a
reference which outlines the fire fighting water supply situation in the Orinda Fire
Protection District, and which describes the various water supply programs that the
District has undertaken.
Efforts have been made to present this technical report in terms which can be
understood by virtually anyone with a basic understanding of fire fighting and water
supply operations. It is hoped that. the-reader will gain some practical perspective
of systems and procedures which, at times, can become rather complicated.
.This report has been reviewed by, and has been produced with the kind assistance of,
the Engineering Department of the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD).
I would also like to acknowledge SFF Lee Ditlefsen. FF Gary Pearl , FF Randy Trumpf
and FF Nil Lynch who hustled and helped me in my attempt to convert mountains of
data into understandable text and maps, as well as the numerous volunteer .
participants in the district's Fire Hydrant Maintenance Program, who over the past
several years, collected most of the data used in this report.
Water supply is one of many components of 'the fire protection strategy in a
community such as outs which recurrently experiences major conflaguration
opportunities. Development of effective water supply strategies., while important,
should be complimentary to, but not displace, other essential elements such as fuel
management, modern fire fighting equipment, effective human resources, modern
practices and procedures, an effective command structure, adequate communications
capabilities, and aggressive positive interaction with members of the community.
Finally, I hope that this report provides the reader with some meaningful insight
into the complexities of water service in a :community such as ours, the cooperative
inter-agency efforts between Orinda Fire and EBMUD, and the progressive programs
that this fire district has undertaken to achieve maximum benefit from the water
resources available to us.
Respectfully submitted,
I
Willis Lamm, Fire Captain
Water Supply Officer
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20. 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
TOPIC I
WATER SUPPLY MI IONS
Water Supply Operations is one of several fire protection components in the Fire
District. It is one piece of the fire protection "pie" which also includes other
components such as fire hazard reduction, fire prevention, resource development,
personnel development, communications, equipment and materials, planning, logistics,
operations. and incident command. The development of these components and their
smooth interaction with each other determine the general fire safety and fire
control efficiency in our community.
The overall purpose of Water Supply Operations is to insure a readily available,
continuous supply of water for fire fighting operations, provide basic maintenance
for "aboveground" water supply facilities (e.g. , fire hydrants), develop programs
for improving water supplies in areas poorly served or not served by fire hydrants,
and provide training information for personnel to insure familiarity and maximum
utilization of water supply sources available to them.
Water Supply Operations conducts a variety of missions. The water distribution
'system in Orinda is complex, the hazards varied, and it requires the combined,
coordinated efforts of several agencies to maximize water supply potential. The key
missions of our water supply operations are listed below, accompanied by brief
explanations as to their purpose and the actions currently being taken by the fire
district.
I. Data Collection and System Testing:
Accurate information about the water distribution system is the cornerstone of
any water supply program. The fire district has a very advanced program for
gathering information and converting raw data into useful information which
has been recently adapted to be fully integrable with EBMUD's new hydrant
testing program.
The most fundamental aspect of getting water supply information is through the
flow testing of fire hydrants. Except when regular flow testing is
temporarily suspended due to drought conditions, district personnel test
approximately one third of the district's hydrants each year. This schedule
provides data that is reasonably current, since no portion of our data base
would ordinarily be over two years old.
To make this raw data useful , water Supply Operations has developed a computer
program called "HYCALC" which can be run in our portable computers out in the
field as well as in the main computers at fire stations and in our
communications van. By imputing the observed readings from one flowing
outlet, the program calculates total available hydrant and main flows,
including adjusting the totals by figuring in "correction factors"
characteristic of each type of hydrant tested.
WATER SUPPLY MISSIONS
Continued
The portable computers used by the flow test crew provide instant information
in the field which can be converted into the proper "color codes" for
available volume and pressure. The crew can then apply the correct color
codes to the hydrant before they leave for their next test.
Back at the station, the data from the portable computers can be uploaded into
the Hydrant Master List, and can be retrieved later for analysis. .targeting
special operations, recommending improvements to EBMUD, and for basing fire
flow requirements for new developments.
Historically, we have provided HYCALC data to EBMUD for their use, and we are
presently cooperating with an EBMUD plan to combine data collection and
information resources which.will provide additional data needed for their
computerized water distribution,.system model. (EBMUD's model will eventually
be able to pinpoint problem areas in order to maximize results obtained from
EBMUD's upgrade expendatures.
II. Engine Company Information: (Color codes)
It is of particular importance to engine companies to be ab-le to quickly
determine the capabilities of any hydrant to which they are connecting.-
Available flows and operating pressures are significant factors in determining
fire control tactics and strategy. Flow and pressure information is extremely
vital in communities such as Orinda where due to elevation and older water
mains, available flows and pressures can vary extremely.
Water Supply Operations has developed and implemented color coding standards
for the purpose stated above. In addition, we have provided symbols
indicating other important information on our hydrants in an effort to avoid
critical mistakes during major fire operations.
Hydrant markings are described in specific detail in Topic 7.
III. Requirements for New.Developments:
The Fire Prevention Bureau is responsible for establishing requirements for
water supply for all new developments and certain new construction within the
district. Utilizing data gathered by Water Supply Operations, the Fire
Marshal can establish conditions requiring upgrading of water mains,
installation of additional fire hydrants and other reasonable protective
measures such as sprinkler systems.
Fire Prevention has the final authority in setting these requirements, but
often consults with Water Supply Operations to insure uniformity and
compatibility with other water supply equipment and operations.
2
WATER SUPPLY MISSIONS
Continued
IV. Improvements in Existing Neighborhoods:
There are a number of neighborhoods which are served by inadequate sized
mains, dead-end mains, poorly spaced hydrants, low pressures Jue to elevation,
and in many cases multiples of these problems. Some of these areas that we
have identified as deficient result from topographic conditions which cannot
be easily corrected. Others have resulted from fire district flow
requirements that were established decades ago, and which no longer meet our
changing community's needs.
Water Supply Operations has responded to these problems by identifying areas
of concern, working with EBMUD toward the ultimate replacement of problem
mains, and funding additional hydrants where necessary when new mains are
being installed. WaterSupply Operations also will "match funds" with local
neighborhoods which wish to install needed public fire hydrants.
Since Proposition 13, we have not been able to bear the costs of installing
new hydrants on existing mains since EBMUD often charges in excess of
$5,000.00 to open a street, bore a water main, lay pipe to a hydrant, install
the hydrant and repave the street. When the streets are already open during a
main upgrade, we do capitalize on the opportunity to arrange for installation
of additional hydrants at significantly reduced costs. Also during the
drafting of this report, EBMUD has proposed a very interesting program of
providing some hydrant upgrades without cost to the fire district as a part of
certain water main replacement projects.
V. Water Main Upgrade Program:
A great number of water mains in the Orinda Fire Protection District were
installed prior to World War II, and were designed based upon a much different
community than we have today. There were thousands fewer homes, most were
smaller, "vacation style" residences, and much of Orinda was not nearly as
wooded as it is today. Fire flow requirements set by the fire district were
much lower than today, and consequently, we have inherited numerous water
mains that are inadequate for extinguishing one large house fire, let alone
multiple involved structures or a major wildfire advancing across town.
In IL985 Water Supply Operations submitted a list of mains which provided
inadequate flows or weak residual pressures. Nearly all of these were either
4" mains, or were 6" mains which had dead ends. EBMUD has since incorporated
this data into their water main replacement program. While the primary focus
on water main replacement is maintenance history, flow information is added to
their criteria when they decide in which order older water mains of similar
age and deterioration are scheduled to be replaced.
Since 1985, EBMUD has provided four significant upgrades in addition to
numerous smaller improvements. In some cases, these upgrades and improvements
improved flows from less than 500 GPM (critically poor) to over 1000 GPM (a
reasonable "standard" flow) .
3
WATER SUPPLY MISSIONS
Continued
Reviewing operations during the October, 1991 Oakland Firestorm and major
fires in the Orinda Fire Protection District, desirable main fire flows in the
urban-wildland interface, particularly in slope and, ridgeline areas, are more
in the neighborhood of 2250 GPM. These flows recognize the probability of
companies gathering around three or more hydrants on a particular main and
.flowing up to 750 GPM per hydrant. This is particularly likely in older
sections where hydrant spacing is less than ideal and multiple and larger
defensive fire streams are likely to be deployed.
Discussions with EBMUD Water Distribution-.Planning resulted in a design goal
of providing a minimum of 2250 GPM, whenever feasible, for all mains serving
three or more hydrants.
VI. Hydrant Maintenance:
Insuring that all hydrants are in good working order is an obvious priority.
Water Supply Operations has a -,developed a systematic approach to address this
need.
The District has been divided into nine hydrant maintenance routes. Each
spring a checklist is given to each captain which specifically lists about 75
hydrants. Each captain will take his company into the field during a three-
week "window", and perform a number of inspection and maintenance tasks at
each hydrant. (Maintenance activities are described in specific detail in
Topic 9.)
Most work is performed on the engine comany level , which includes inspectiing
each hydrant, clearing brush, replacing glue hydrant markers, painting color
codes, etc. Some other tasks require specialized attention -and equipment such
as installation of "NoParking" signs, of small retaining walls (where dirt
slides down around hydrant excavations), flow.testing in sensitive areas— and
are performed by the district hydrant, maintenance crew. The hydrant crew is
made up of district personnel, who have received extra training in specialized
hydrant maintenance and are-available-on an overtime basis as needed.
Repairs and services that are beyond the scope of "user maintenance" are
generally performed by EBMUD. These items are turned in to EBMUD's East Area
Yard, whereupon they are fit into EBMUD's maintenance and repair scheduleas
their priority dictates.
It should be also noted that EBMUD also has a hydrant inspection program, and
although their focus doesn't closely parallel ours, they do -periodically check
the hydrants and perform scheduled "heavy maintenance", which further lessens
the chance of a hydrant failure during a critical emergency.
Note; in most instance*, zsmm water d rater storage designs were based upon fire district.standards
were applicable
at the
time. 4ear':far*. onmente referring to 'inadequate flows• is in no :y in an to
suggest that ILUD failed to meet any prevailing standard that was technically feasible at the time, nor
that KBKVV has any obligation to upgrade systems which don't meet today's stricter standards.
4
WATER SUPPLY MISSIONS
Continued .
VII. Special Operations:
The fire district has a few areas in which structures are located at
elevations which exceed the distribution area of nearby EBMUD water mains. In
those locations, "Dry Hydrant Systems" have been installed to whereby fire
district forces can pump water into the systems from lower elevations, and
receive water from special hydrants located near the structures at the higher
elevations.
There are also similarly operated standpipe systems at some of the Orinda
Woods complexes where hand lines can be connected behind the buildings and
water pumped to them from engines in the parking lots.
Although most of these systems were part. of original development requirements
established by the Fire Marshal , annual testing and marking of these systems,
as well as publication of "user information" fall under the Water Supply
program.,
VIII. Private Water Supply Systems:
The Orinda Fire Protection District contains numerous private water supply
systems. These range from full-sized hydrants located on privately owned
mains and connected to the EBMUD system, to "wildland fire fills" which are
wharf heads connected to spring-fed storage tanks.
Water Supply Operations regularly inspects these systems and provides the same
user maintenance as for the public fire hydrants. Additionally, Water Supply
Operations works closely with the owners of these systems to help insure Ne
continued reliability of these sources of water.
IX. Watershed Water Supply:
The Orinda Fire Protection District contains thousands of acres of volatile
watershed, much of which are located below residential neighborhoods.
Recognizing the threat posed by an uncontrolled fire in these areas, Water
Supply Operations has teamed up with EBMUD in order to exploit all practical
sources of water in the watershed and around EBMUD facilities.
In this program, Water Sup�ly Operations and EBMUD have jointly evaluated the
various water sources available, determined the feasibility and reliability of
each source, and over the past four years have targeted two to three of these
sources per year for development based upon priority and opportunity.
Specific examples and descriptions of the long term goals of this program are
described in Topic 6.
WATER SUPPLY MISSIONS
Continued
X. Water Development Action Plan:
The Oakland Firestorm has provided the opportunity to accelerate a number of
fire safety objectives, which include such key areas as hazardous vegetation
control , public notification and evacuation schemes, improved inter-agency
coordination and fire control operations, and water distribution system
improvements. Everyone is now aware of the impact on fire control operations
when the water delivery system can't keep up with demand. Several "weakest
link" areas of our community increase the likelihood of a fire gaining headway
and getting completely out of control .
We are also sensitive to the likelihood that the Insurances Services Office
(ISO) will evaluate the consequences of the Oakland Firestorm and will likely
look more critically at the type of water distribution system which protects
the Fire District. We expect that they will not look favorably upon those
segments of the water distribution system which were built to the standards
which were in effect forty or fifty years ago. One possible impact Would be
the downgrading of Orinda's ISO protection class, which would have a
significant impact on most of the fire insurance policies held in the
district. Another possible result could be "red-lining" of insurance policies
issued to home owners in communities such as ours.
As a result, Water Supply Operations is drafting a Water Development Action
Plan to try to mitigate these situations, as well as working with community
groups to develop mitigation strategies. "First draft" concepts are presented
in Topic 9.
6
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20, 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
TOPIC 2
EB_MU0 WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
Nearly all of the water used for fire control operations in the fire district is
provided by the EBMUD water distribution system. Local geographic conditions causes
this to be an extremely complex system of reservoirs, pressure zones pumping plants
and a maze of pipelines linking the various components together and zones,
water to customers and fire hydrants. The characteristics of Orinda which propagate
the same problems experienced in Oakland are presented in this topic.
I. Effects of Elevation:
In a pipeline, water increases in pressure approximately 112ound for every
foot in elevation between its source and the point in which Je water leaves
the pipeline. For example, a hydrant or residence located about 100 Ft. in
elevation below a reservoir would have about 43 p.s.i . of pressure.(" As a
result, users located near the same elevation as a reservoir might suffer from
low pressure, while others a greater distance downhill would experience
pressures in excess of what their household pipes and appliances could stand.
In .a "flat city" water distribution is relatively simple. Engineers determine
a location for a single reservoir with an elevation Nat will deliver between
43 and 80 p.s.i . to the community. This single reservoir, or series of
equally elevated reservoirs, can be designed to hold the total anticipated
needs of the community and the stored water can "gravity flow" uninterrupted
throughout the community. This is the basic concept behind municipal water
service, but due to Orinda's hills, this standard approach cannot be applied.
The water system in Orinda is "terraced" into pressure zones, typically 200
ft. elevation bands. Each zone is designed to deliver from about 43 p.s.i . at
the top of the zone to about 130 p.s.i . at the bottom of the zone (although
-these limits are exceeded at some locations where it isn't feasible to develop
an additional zone for a limited number of homes).
EBMUD uses the American later Works Association standard of 43 p.s.i. as the starting point for •,low
pressure, hydrants. Both Oakland Fire Department and the Orinda Fire Protection District have established
that hydrants with static pressures below than 50 p.s.i. are low pressure hydrants due to the tactical
implications of these pressures.
A hydrant below 50 p.s.i. static will not deliver desired quantities of water to fire scene engine companies
by main residual pressure. An additional engine must be deployed directly alongside the hydrant to take
suction though short, large diameter hose, and to boost the pressure to sufficient levels to deliver the
required amounts of water to engine companies operating at the fire scene.
This operation has three major disadvantages; (1) an additional engine is committed to the hydrant for relay
pumping which would likely better be deployed in a fire control role, (2) the flow available from the
hydrant is limited to the capacity curve of the pumping fire engine, which varies according to the pressure
required, the relay engine must be positioned next to the hydrant to take suction which can obstruct passage
of other fire apparatus and evacuating citizens on many of our narrow roadways,
7
EBMUD 'WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM,
Continued
Our water supply originates at Orinda Center"' and is pumped from there to a
series of reservoirs ranging in elevation from 750 to 1350 ft. The water is
pumped up through the terraces from one zone to the next highest zone, and so
forth. The reservoirs at each zone provide storage for peak consumption as
estimated by EBMUD, in addition to anticipated fire fighting operations as
designated by the fire department at the time of construction. The size of
each reservoir is based upon the size and anticipated water use in the zone.
As a result, we don't have a single major source of stored water for our
community, and the reserves of water for major fire fighting operations are
much more limited in the smaller pressure zones.
IL Grid Systems vs. Dead End Mains:
In our "flat. city" example, water distribution is carried through a gridded
system where water mains are usually intersected concurrently with each
surface street intersection. If there was a major demand for water in one
area of the system, water would flow to the affected area simultaneously
through several parallel water mains that approached the demand area. The
grid network would supply water from a number of directions around the demand
site resulting in a stable and consistent supply of water.
If several hydrants were pumped heavily in the demand area, the water
available from the numerous mains in a grid system would help mitigate
pressure losses to fire operations.
In contrast, hilly communities often have numerous "dead end mains". These
are typical in areas with narrow, winding roads which are often dead end
themselves. Through roads often extend above or below the zone "terraces",
where mains must dead end and service is picked up by the next pressure zone.
The end result is a high percentage.,of water mains which are only supplied
from one end, thesource often being miles from the user.
Dead end mains present three significant hazards:
A. When a portion of the main fails in a grid system, the affected segment
of the main can be isolated and the water will flow past that area
through parallel mains on the grid. On a dead end main, there is no
supply beyond the point of failure unless an emergency pump from a lower
zone or a regulated* supply from a higher zone can be set up.
(2) 10rinda Center, is the official Dame of the facility which we have historically called the 10rinda Filter
Plant'.
8
EBMUD WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM,
Continued
B. The supply of water available at any point is limited to the poorest
performing "upstream" section of the main, similar to the weak link in a
chain theory.
C. Fire operations "upstream" can significantly affect fire operations
"downstream" as the water the upstreamers pump out will be literally
taken away from the other users. On long dead end mains where several
engines may be pumping, the first couple of pumping operations may
literally leave remaining hydrants "dry" (as experienced in Oakland).
In short, dead end mains can pose significant concerns which we will
continuously have to cope with.
III. Effects of Demography and Historical Developmental Patterns:
Most of Orinda's water distribution system was placed in service prior to
modern planning standards. Although a number of subdivisions were mapped
which covered wide areas. the actual construction and development often took
place on a "street by street" and single lot basis. Often there were no
County or Fire District requirements for developers to provide large scale
fire flows and to require that mains loop back to their supplies.
Resultingly, many mains were extended almost "lot by lot" as houses were
built, with the inevitable "dead end" result.
IV. Regulated Zones:
As if Orinda's terraced pressure zones and plentiful dead end mains aren't
enough trouble, we have the added problem of regulated zones in our district.
Regulated zones serve small pockets of homes in valleys below major pressure
zones. These are usually areas with less than 100 homes and where there
wasn't a suitable location, or the expense couldn't be justified, to install a
separate reservoir to. serve the zone. In a regulated zone, 'water from a
higher zone flows through a pressureregulatorto mains in the zone.
The regulator controls the excess pressure from the higher zone, but it causes
significant problems of its own. These problems are discussed in Topic 3-E.
V. Pumping Plants:
The most vital element to getting water from the Orinda Filter Plant up to the
higher elevation distribution zones is the operation of the pumping plants.
These plants are generally located at a reservoir where the water mains from a
lower and upper zone meet. Typically these pumping plants pump during low
electrical demand periods, such as late at night. These reservoirs are
fluctuated between a minimum of about 70% to "full", both for reasons of pump
efficiency and water availability. It is particularly important to note that
pumping plants are designed to replenish reservoirs over long periods of time.
not deliver fire flows.
9
EBMUD WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
Continued
Normally, these reservoirs are filled automatically by pump units started by a
computerized remote control pump scheduler. These pump units stop
automatically when each reservoir is full . Senior Operators at EBMUD's
Oakland Control Center (OCC) monitor the distribution system via a digital
operational network system, known as Op/Net. If a reservoir level reaches a
lower than normal level , an alarm is automatically transmitted to the OCC,
where the Senior Operator will investigate and take appropriate action by
either starting pumps or requesting a maintenance shift supervisor to'
investigate locally. Abnormalities such as power failures and unusually high
or low pressures are also monitored by the Op/Net system.
Pumping plants operate electrically. Some pressure zones have more than one
pumping plant and usually when a pling plant is out of service, one or more
other plants will be operational . e majority of zones in the Orinda Fire
Protection District are smaller, however, and have only one pumping plant.
In the event of electrical failure in the smaller zones, EBMUD has a number of
contingencies planned in which to restore pumping capabilities. These
contingencies are discussed in Topic 4.
During fire fighting operations, the operation of these pump units will reduce
the rate of depletion of stored water, but will have only a minor impact on
large fire flow consumption. For a variety of technical and operational
reasons, pumping plantslay a relatively minor role in the massive delivery
of water during fire fighting operations.
10
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20. 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
TOPIC 3
WEAK DISTRIBUTION AREAS
For the reasons stated in earlier topics., we have a number of areas where low
available fire flows .(below 1000 GPM) and/or pressures (below 50 p.s.i . static) will
not sustain major fire control operations.- A few other areas don't have hydrants
for one-reason or another."' These areas are categorized on the following pages.
with maps attached.
(1) These reasons are discussed on the following page.
11
WEAK DISTRIBUTION AREAS
Continued
I. Areas without hydrant service:
There are two general types of areas without hydrant service:
A. The first type includes areas which are located above the normal
distribution elevations of the water system. Some of these areas have
water service, but the pressures and fl.ows are insufficient to support.
fire hydrants. Other areas are so high that there are no water mains
nearby, and each residential occupant has to pump water from a lower
water main or from a well .
B. The second type includes areas that developed in such a manner that
hydrants were, not requi red..... Thi s typically included areas where single
houses were built on lots,.which: were subdivided decades ago. There was
no statute requiring the installation of a hydrant for each single
residence. The end result left us, in some cases, with whole streets
without hydrant service.
Typical areas of concern without hydrant service include:
Alta Vista., north end
El Toyonal , north of Vista Del Orinda
Knickerbocker Lane., above #48
La Madronal
Las Mesas Path
Lomas Contadas
Los Norrabos
Marston Rd.
Madrone Pl.
Mira Loma, south of Linda Vista
Modoc Rd.
Nobi Lane
Parklane Rd.
Sanborn Rd:, west end
Sandhill Rd. , west of Melody Lane
Strawberry Hollow >>> :(Mitigated as of 6/95)
Sunnyside Lane above #64
Tappan Lane along the ridge
Tres Mesas Path
Valley View Ln.
Wanda Lane
Winding Lane
12
WEAK DISTRIBUTION AREAS
Continued
Having no nearby hydrants presents obvious complications to fire control
operations, particularly during wildland fire season. Many of these roads are
difficult to get water tenders into and out of, and laying sufficient supply
lines and relaying water from distant hydrants is time consuming, ties up p a
great deal of equipment, and blocks roads for additional responding units as
well as for escaping citizens.
A major concern is a fire getting out of control in one of these areas and
spreading into other neighborhoods, as the primary means of extinguishment in
non-hydranted areas may well have to be from air strikes.
13
WEAK DISTRIBUTION AREAS
Continued
II. Areas with Low Hydrant Volumes (below 500 GPM):
These areas, in some cases, provide sufficient flows to extinguish a single
house fire on a calm day, but would be no match for a major fire threat.
Consider also that in most of these areas, the problem isn't simply that there
are a few hydrants that can deliver 300 to 400 GPM each, but the best main can
deliver is this volume to all of the hydrants on a, particular section. In
this situation, pumping one hydrant to capacity would leave the others
virtually dry.
Low volume mains, therefore, are another serious concern for Water Supply
Operations.
Streets with low volume mains inQlude:
Camino Del Diablo
Camino Don Miguel, west side of loop
Charles Hill Circle
Charles Hill Rd., near Honey.Hill Rd.
Crestview Drive, north end of ridge
Dolores Way / Donna Maria Way area
El Gavilan, on ridge
El Patio
La Cintilla
La Cuesta, upper end
Linda Vista
Los Dedos
Mira Loma
Monte Veda
Monte Vista. between #50 and #100
Oak Rd.
Patrick Lane
Ranch Rd.
Sunrise Hill Rd.
Tappan Lane, north end
Tappan Terrace
Tappan Way
Tarabrook Rd.
Vallecito Lane
Via Farralon
Via Hermosa
Westwood Ct.
Woodcrest Dr.
Unfortunately most of these locations are on or near ridge tops or are in
heavily wooded areas; places where significa*nt fire flows would be required to
provide defense against a major fire.
15
WEAK DISTRIBUTION AREAS
Continued
111. Areas with Low Pressure Hydrants (below 50 p.s.i .)
Low pressure is of a lesser concern than low volume. While in a low volume
area, you simply can't get enough water, many lowressure areas can provide
reasonable fire flows. The problem associated with low pressure is in getting
the water from the hydrant to the fire scene.
In higher pressure zones, an engine company can lay lines from the hydrant to
it's operating position at the fire. Particularly with the 4 112" supply
lines that we use, the hydrant will usually have sufficient pressure to
deliver adequate water to the engine at operating at the fire.
In low pressure zones, an additional engine must take suction at the hydrant
and relay water:to the:engine at the scene. This operation ties up an
additional engine and potentially blocks a narrow road since the supply engine
has to be positioned to take best advantage of the water supply, which usually
means it is blocking the street right next to the hydrant.
Streets with low pressure hydrants include:
Alta Haciendas
Altarinda Rd, upper end
Barbara Rd.
Bobolink Rd.
Buena Vista / Roselle Ln. area
Camino Don Miguel , west side of loop to top of hill
Candlestick Rd.
Charles Hill Rd. , near Honey Hill Rd.
Diablo View Rd. at top of ridge
Dolores Way
Dos Osos .
El Gavilan, on ridge
El Toyonal, 300's (near El Rincon) .
Heather Lane, lower and middle sections
Knickerbocker Ln. , upper end
La Cintilla
Los Altos
Monte Vista, near Monte Vista Ridge Rd.
Monte Vista Ridge Rd. , upper end
Oak Rd.
Rheem Blvd. , top of hill
Rita Way
Sandhill Rd.
Sunrise Hill Rd.
Tahos Rd. , on ridge
Tappan Lane, on ridge
Tappan Te.
Tappan Way
Unfortunately most of these-locations are on or near ridge tops or are in
heavily wooded areas: places where significant fire flows would be required to
provide defense against a major fire.
17
WEAK DISTRIBUTION AREAS
Continued
IV. Areas with Dead End Mains:
Dead end mains are particularly hideous. The fact that water can only flow
into them from one direction creates a number of problems:
A. Flow is naturally reduced since there is only one supply point. (Most
of our low volume hydrants are found on dead end mains.)
B. Water being pumped must travel through the main at greater velocities,
causing greaterressure loss due to friction and turbulence.
Operationally, 4is means that when demand is placed on a hydrant on a
dead. end main, the residual pressure in the hydrant is likely to fall
off sharply.
C. Worst of all , dead end mains smaller than 8" diameter or in low pressure
zones have significant problems as companies pumping at the supply end
of the mains can cause downstream ,compani es to run dry.
The'combination of singular supply, sharp pressure drops and complications
i
when more than one company s pumping on the mainresent a combination of
factors which results in a great deal of vulnerability to companies operating
on dead ends.
There are numerous dead end mains in our district. Ones which are of concern
involve 321 out of the 672 total hydrants in the district, and are indicated
on the following pages and map.
19
Streets with dead end mains include:
Albo Ct Dalewood Te Las Piedras Scenic Or
Alta Vista Del Mar Ct Linda Vista Silver Oak Te
Altarinda Rd Dias Dorados Lorna Vista Singingwood Ln
Amber Valley Or Dolores,Wy Lombardy Ln Sleepy Hollow Ln
Ardor Or Donald Dr Los Dedos Snowberry Ct
Avenida De Orinda Don Gabriel Wy Lost Valley Or Soule Rd
Barbara Rd Donna Maria Wy Manzanita Or Southwood Or
BART Dos Encinas Meadowpark Ct Spring Rd
Bates Bl Dos Osos Meadow View Rd Stanton Av
Bates Ct Easton Ct Miner Rd Stanton Ct
Bel Air Or Edgewood Rd Mira Loma Sunnyside Ln
Berrybrook Hollow El Camino Moraga Monte Veda Sunrise Hill Rd
Bien Venida El Nido Ranch Rd Monte Vista Rd Sycamore Rd
Briones View Rd El Toyonal Monte Vista Ridge Rd Tahos Rd
Broadview Te El Verano Monterey Te Tara Rd
Brookbank Rd Estates Or Moraga Wy Tarabrook Rd
Buena Vista Evergreen Or Mossbridge Ln Tarry Ln
Calvin Ct Gardiner Ct Muth Or Tigertail Ct
Calvin Or The Glade Nider Ln Vallecito Ln
Camino Del Diablo Glorietta BI Oak Rd Valencia Rd
Camino Del Monte Glorietta Ct Oakridge Ln Valley Or
Camino Sobrante Greenwood Ct Orchard Rd Van Tassel Ln .
Candle Te Heather Ln Orinda Wy Via Callados
Candlestick Rd Highland Ct Orinda View Rd Via Farallon
Canon Or Hilldale Ct Orindawoods Or Via Floreado
Casa Vieja Honeywood Rd Overhill Ct Via Hermosa
Cedar Ln Ichabod Ln Overhill Rd Village Gate Rd
Cedar Terrace Irving Ln Patrick Ln Village View Ct
Charles Hill Cir Keith Or Patricia Rd Vista Del Orinda
Charles Hill Rd Knickerbocker Pine Grove Vista Del Mar
Claremont Av The Knoll Ranch Rd Warford Te
Courtney Ln La Campana Ravenhill Washington Ln
Courtney Ln La Cintilla Ridge Gate Rd Watchwood Rd
Crane Te La Cresta Rio Vista Westwood Ct
Crestview Ct La Cuesta Robert Rd Wood Acres Ln
Crestview Or La Encinal Sandhill Rd Woodcrest Or
Crestview Te La Espiral Santa Maria Wy Wovenwood
Dalewood Or La Fond Ln St. Hill Rd Yarrow Valley Ln
Dalewood Ln La Noria St. Stephens Or Zander Ct
Notes:
Typical standards for dead in main flagging are 4" and 6" mains, hydrants on
larger mains which are supplied by long, smaller mains., hydrants on larger
mains in low pressure zones (e.g. , ridge-tops) , and hydrants on larger mains
which are on the supply side of an intersecting smaller dead end.
20
•
J#
WEAK DISTRIBUTION AREAS
Continued
IV. Areas on Regulators:
Regulated zones serve small pockets of homes in valleys below major pressure
zones. These are-usually areas with less than 100 homes, and Where there
wasn't a suitable location, or the expense couldn't be justified, to install a
separate reservoir to serve the zone. In a regulated zone, water from a
higher zone flows through a pressure regulator into the regulated zone.
The regulator controls the excess pressure from the higher zone, but it causes
three significant problems in itself:
A. The regulator itself is a restriction to water flow since only a limited
volume of watercan .pass; through it.
B. Most regulator zones are supplied by a single regulator set wbich, in
effect, creates a dead end zone.
C. All supply must pass through the regulator, and in the "single set
regulator" zones, all water supply is reliant upon the performance of a
single regulator set.
D. Regulators are significantly affected by quick changes in downstream
flow. In the regulator's attempt to control downstream pressures, its
mechanical action tends to send a significant "water hammer" effect back
through the mains supplying it when hydrants or lines are shut down in
the regulated zone. Since the water hammer effect is on the supply side
of the regulator, companies operating within regulated zones often won't
see evidence of this water hammer and don't realize the impacts of their
shutdowns until a water main ruptures on the supply side of the
regulator.
As a result, Water. Supply Operations is very mindful of regulated zones. We
paint a clearly identifiable symbol , anorange "R" inside an orange circle, on
a.1 I hydrants in regulated zones, andcontinuously provide training information
to companies to remind them of the problems associated with these zones and
proper procedures to use in association with these zones.
(Continued)
22
WEAK DISTRIBUTION AREAS
Continued
Hydrants in regulator Zones are located at:
Camino Sobrante, vicinity of Dias Dorados and El Sueno
Dias Dorados
Dolores Way
Don Gabriel Way
Donna -Maria Way
Dos Encinas
El Camino Moraga, from Don Gabriel Way to end
El- Patio
Estates Dr. , between #11 and Estates Ct.
Heather Ln. , center section
La Ci nti l 1'a.
Linda Vista`
Mira .Loma
Oakwood Rd.
Orchard Rd. . south of Rheem Blvd.
Orchard Rd. . from Valley Drive to Brookside Dr.
Scenic Dr. near Orchard Rd.
Rita Way
Sager Ct.
Valley Drive
Via Farralon
23
WEAK DISTRIBUTION AREAS
Continued
IV. Areas with Poor Hydrant Spacing:
We consider adequate hydrant spacing to be:
A. A maximum distance of 500' between hydrants in residential areas.
B. A maximum distance of 500' from the nearest hydrant to the most distant
structure served (e.g. , up driveways).
There are several reasons for this standard:
A. Most hydrants will provide adequate supply through hoses for distances
under 500' .. eliminating,the-need for an additional engine to pump at the
hydrant to relay water. to,the eng,i ne at the fire.
B. Less hose is required for short hydrant lays, and. laying a supply line,
particularly in areas where it -is necessary to pull the line off the
roadway so other units can get to the fire, adds considerable time to
initial fire fighting operations.
C. Many houses in older areas have long driveways and close spacing puts
most of these houses "in reach" of hydrants.
0. In the event of a major fire problem, closer hydrant spacing means more
hydrants are available to companies setting up a "line of defense".
(It's real difficult to supply a defensive line of engine companies when
hydrants are spaced in excess of 1000' , as is the case in many
neighborhoods here.)
E. When a hydrant is out of service.due to an accident or maintenance, the
other hydrants on either side,wi.li still be close enough to provide
adequate service. (Usually EBMUD can restore a hydrant within hours,
however we have had: occasions: when due to technical complications,
usually underground, it has been weeks before a hydrant is returned to
service.)
It is very difficult to require a single lot builder to provide a hydrant when
all of the other houses on the street were built without one. Before
Proposition 13, the fire district paid for five or six installations per year,
but at an average cost of $5,000.00 per installation, we can no longer afford
the cost. As a result, our attempts to fill in these hydrant gaps have had
limited results.
25
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20, 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
TOPIC 4
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
To cope with some of the problems we are faced with, both EBMUD and. the fire
district have developed s number of special operations. These are listed in two
main categories; Pumping Plant Failures and Dry Hydrant Systems.
I. Pumping Plant Failures (or Shutdowns):
There are two primary reasons a pumping, plant may cease to operate: mechanical
or electrical failure, or a planned shutdown for repairs or modifications.
(Mechanical failure in a pumping plant is rare.)
When -an unexpected shutdown .of a pumping plant occurs, an indication of such
is transmitted through EBMUD's Op/Net telemetry system to the Oakland Control
Center. The on-duty Senior Operator cananalyzethe situation and order up
the correct response from EBMUD's forces to eitherz bring the pumping plant
back on-line or activate one of three standard contingency plans, listed
below.
A. EBMUD's normal response to an electrical failure is to restore power via
PG&E or EBMUD electrical troubleshooters. In extraordinary situations,
a trailer pump can be brought to the pumping plant to restore service.
Generally, these trailer pumps are of equal or greater capacity than the
pumping plant itself.
B. A secondary measure calls for electrical generators to be brought to the
pumping plants in the event trailer pumps aren't immediately available.
C. When reservoirs are out of service for planned maintenance, contingency
plans are made where an EBMUD-.or fire department pump can relay water
around a pumping plant. These plans usually include an operation
wherein: if a fire occurs-within the zone of the out-of-service
reservoir, an additional fire -engine is dispatched to a pair of pump-
around hydrants and is prepared to supplement the water supply in the
affected zone, should it become necessary.
Pump-around hydrants are pairs of fire hydrants specially coded so that
engine companies will know which one to pump from and which one to pump
into. ffor sanitary reasons, fire engine pump-around operations are
"last option" measures.)
It is conceivable that during an extremely major fire operation, these
pump-arounds could be used to augment flows in certain zones, however as
best we can recall , the pump-arounds have never been used for such
purposes. Additionally, our water systems are designed to provide fire
flows from reservoir storage and forcing additional pumping from a lower
zone during a fire would probably result in early depletion from the
storage in that lower zone.
26
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
Continued
The most probable scenario wherein EBMUD might request or authorize a
fire department pumper to supply water through a pump-around during a
fire control operation would be where a section of water main failed,
had to be shut down, and the pump-around is the only practical means to
deliver reasonable quantities of water to the distribution area which
has been separated from its normal reservoir supply.
It should be noted that except for the Oakland Firestorm. we are aware of no
outages that have resulted in a critical loss of water storage capacity
whereby EBMUD would have considered requesting the implementation fire
department pump-around procedures during an actual emergency.
It should also be noted that. forall fires that reach second alarm or greater,
the fire communications center contacts EBMUD, and EBMUD usually sends out a
field supervisor to the command post. If we were to start experiencing
problems such as a PG&E failure resulting from the fire. EBMUD would be right
on top of the problem and could-order up contingent resources at the early
stages of the event.
Also, as indicated earlier in this report. the pumping plants are not designed
to support fire flows, and while it would be helpful to have the pumping
plants in operation during a major fire, they will not have a critical impact
and the relativity of their importance should be kept in perspective.
II. "Dry" Hydrant Systems:
In some areas above the water distribution zone, we have established dry
hydrant systems. These are standardized systems that have a "dry" fire
hydrant located above the water distribution zone, which is attached to a pipe
which is supplied from a fire department connection at a lower elevation.
The logic here is that an engine company can lay lines from the dry hydrant to
the fire, and an additional company down below will pump water from an EBMUD
hydrant up into the dry system. thereby supplying the company at the fire.
This is not a quick process, but it does allow us to provide reasonable fire
flows to elevations above the normal EBMUD distribution area.
The dry hydrants are painted completely red so as not to be confused with
normal public hydrants, and the fire department connections are all
standardized. All district personnel are thoroughly familiar with these
systems, and so long as our normal alarm assignments respond to these
locations, the dry systems will probably work satisfactorily.
Dry hydrant systems presently exist at the following locations:
Knickerbocker Lane, above #48
Nobi Lane
Sunnyside Lane, above #64
27
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20, 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
TOPIC 5
PRIVATE WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS
There are several water supply systems within the district designated as "private
water supply systems". These generally fall into two categories.
The first category includes fire hydrants on private fire .mains. . These mains extend
into areas which do not fit the legal description of public water mains or public
hydrants. As a result, EBMUD has not included these mains and hydrants in its water
distribution system, although EBMUD does supply the water to these mains and
hydrants. . Designs and fire flows from these private systems, excepting those. on
State property, are set by the Fire District and similar to those applicable to
public fire hydrants...
Private hydrant systems supplied by EBMUD include:
BART; North parking lot and at-the ventilation structure
Bruns Amphitheater; all hydrants
CalTrans; Caldecott Tunnel and Fish Ranch Road
East Bay Regional Parks District;. all hydrants inside the park
Pine Grove Office Complex: in the parking lot by Bldg. A
Wagner Ranch School
We also have private water supply systems which are supplied by other sources, most
predominately from springs which are tapped and directed into storage tanks. These
are generally located in or near the watershed. Two such systems are presently in
service:
El Toyonal at Orinda Horsemen`s Association facility (EBMUD Watershed); a 2
112" wharf head hydrant supplied from a 2,256 gallon tank
Orinda Country-Club: corporation yard, supplied by the golf course.irrigation
system
Another nearby system was abandoned due to danger posed by an aging redwood storage
tank. Additional watershed systems are under consideration, depending on funding
and technical practicality.
The fire district provides the same annual inspections and user maintenance to the
private systems as we do to public hydrants and these systems have been historically
very reliable.
28
AM
ORINDA,FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20, 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
TOPIC 6
WATERSHED WATER SUPPLY
Since most of EBMUD's properties involve some form of wildlanq fire hazard,
watershed Water Supply is abroad term that we apply to the development of water
supply. systems for all EBMUD properties and facilities within our district. The
watershed water supply program is broken down into three basic elements, which are
discussed below.
1. Protection of EBMUD facilities:
There are three major EBMUD facilities within our district. Orinda Center,
which we typicallycall- the: Orinda.,Filter Plant. the Watershed and Recreation
corporation yard, and the Bruns.,Amphitheater, which is privately operated but
situated entirely within EBMUD property. Each of these facilities has unique
characteristics and our water supply program has addressed each one
independently.
A. During the last renovation of the Orinda Filter Plant, we assessed the
hydrant systems protecting the plant. Some of the existing hydrants
were installed in the 1930's, were inadequate in design and weren't in
the best repair.
After a tEief. discussion with plant management, EBMUD upgraded four
hydrants of concern to current standards and we incorporated the plant
hydrants into our annual inspection and user maintenance program.
(I wish to note that a primary factor in the inadequacies noted was due
to the filter plant's hydrants not being listed in our records and
therefore not part of our annual inspection and preventive maintenance
program. EBMUD was immediately responsive to our observations and
recommendations, and had the newhydrants ordered up even before Water
.Supply Operations wrote up,,a formal memo outlining the recommendations
we discussed,- )
B. The-Watershed and Recreation corporation yard was another area where we
determined water supply to be inadequate. This facility developed in
pieces, and evolved into a equipment storage area. warehouse, gasoline
pump facility, "firehouse", office, and -storehouse for agricultural
chemicals used by EBMUD. The only water supply is a 2" service line
from Camino Pablo and Bear Creek Rd. EBMUD had installed a standpipe in
the facility, but it is not of a design and in a location practical to
facilitate significant fire control operations.
29
WATERSHED WATER SUPPLY
Continued
Water Supply Operations determined that the most practical immediate
approach to dealing with this problem would be to:
1. locate the service line in the parking area and install a regular
fire hydrant in a location where it would be practical to lay
lines from to .an engine, with an estimated fire flow of between
250 and 350 GPM, and
2. Install a PVC supply line, 4" diameter or greater, from a redwood
water storage tank on the west side of San Pablo Dam Rd. to the
caretaker's residence across from the corporation yard. This
installation should provide a minimum flow of 500 GPM, and
although the combination of two sources would make initial set-up
a bit complicated, there would exist at least a modest working
water supply for the corporation yard and adjacent structures.
It should be noted that these proposals were tabled due to a proposal
for a new water main installation from Bear-Creek Rd. to the- boat launch
facility, to which hydrants could be connected and adequate water supply
could be obtained. If it appears that this main is not going to be
installed, we will pursue the original concepts, above.
9/95 Revision: An 8" water main has been installed to the corporation
yard, with a hydrant provided which flows 1180 GPM. A 3" water line has
been extended to the boat launch facility which serves a wharf head fire
hydrant there.
C. The Bruns Amphitheater was actually constructed by the California
Shakespearian Festival , a non-profit corporation, but since it is
located on EBMUD property, we have included it in the EBMUD facilities
portion of our water supply program for simplicity.
Fire Prevention made certain requirements of this facility to provide
water storage and mains, including two hydrants to be located near the
stage. The mains were installed and Water Supply Operations provided
two reclaimed hydrant bodies for the installations. As more buildings
are added to the complex, the builders will provide a small diameter
supply line from the Berkeley Hills Emergency Reservoir in order to
insure that the amphitheater storage tank remains full . At this point,
Water Supply Operations will determine if upgraded hydrants are
necessary, and exchange the hydrant bodies as applicable.
Another plan under consideration is to extend about 50' of 4" pipe from
the storage tank to the fire trail above the amphitheater and attach a
fire hydrant for wildland water supply. This concept meets with the
approval of amphitheater management, but since this was not part of
their fire safety requirements, the installation of the pipe will be the
fire district's or EBMUD's responsibility..
30
WATERSHED WATER SUPPLY
Continued
II. Protection of EBMUD Facilities:
EBMUD has a number of reservoirs throughout the district. Most are located on
or near ridges. Several are planted with trees such as pine and eucalypti to
provide visual screening. The locations of these reservoirs make them highly
vulnerable to fires burning below them.
While most of the reservoirs themselves are of fire resistive construction and
even a major fire is not likely to affect their integrity, some "outside"
equipment and the tree screens are vulnerable to destruction by fire.
Considering that there is an abundance of water available inside these
reservoirs, Water Supply Operations has made recommendations to provide
hydrants for engine companies defending these facilities.
l
Aside from the protection of EBMUD property and landscaping, adequate
available water supply should prevent fires from spreading through and beyond
facilities to residential areas, -as- have ,happened in' previous years.
It should be noted that a few of the newer, or reconstructed reservoirs had
wharf heads installed by EBMUD at the base of the reservoirs. - Due to low
pressure and the necessity to enter into locked facilities to get to them,
these wharf heads are 'of limited value. To address this problem, we have, in
cooperation with EBMUD, identified
ied areas immediately below their facilities
where a wildland fire hydrant installation would be feasible and EBMUD has
made some of these installations.
We typically identify a couple of installations each year, and once the
hydrants are in place, the fire district assumes responsibility for
maintenance of the portion of the hydrant which is above ground.
III. Watershed Water Supply Development
Since 1987, .water: supply development has been a part of the watershed fire
hazard management program. Even prior to this date, EBMUD Watershed and
Recreation Division has reduced fuel loading through a variety of fuel
management programs, and has maintained reasonable access for fire vehicles by
maintaining a series of fire roads and trails.
EBMUD has also maintained a number of stock ponds, both for use by grazing
livestock as well as for fire fighting. Since not all wildland fire fighting
vehicles can easily get water from these ponds, their use has been primarily
intended for helicopter bucket fills and to establish drafting stations, and
they are extremely valuable as such.
31
WATERSHED WATER SUPPLY
Continued
Most fire fighting apparatus, however, will be dependent upon the availability
of water tenders or, as is most often the case, have to drive back into town
to fill up at a fire hydrant. Pursuing the logic that fire operations are
more effective if resources spend more time fighting fire and less time
driving to get water, we identified locations where water could be easily
tapped or stored specifically for wildland fire fighting purposes.
(It should also be noted that current water tender designs are more "tactical"
in nature: water tenders which can travel off-road and aggressively fight fire
if not needed merely to shuttle water and refill smaller fire fighting units.)
We have identified several locations -where water lines ran next to roadways or
trails, and where it would be reasonably economical to install reclaimed
hydrants. Locations we initially targeted are:
Baseline Reservoir
Bear Creek Rd. , juft northlof the.SawPablo Creek Bridge
Camino Pablo and Bear Creek Rd.
Fire Trail 43-1, at the end of the water main (4" blow-off)
Fire Trail 44-1. below Laguna Tank (Note 1)
Happy Valley Rd. , below the Valley View Reservoir
Hillcrest Drive, at entrance to Baseline property
Honey Hill Rd. , at entrance to Happy Valley Reservoir
Los Norrabos, just outside the Dos Osos Tank (11)
Watershed and Recreation Corporation Yard Motel)
The Hillcrest Drive and Baseline Reservoir installations are complete. The
other installations were held up in early 1990 due to some confusion in the
New Business Office as to how to handle them. I am pleased to report that the
projects appear to be back on track and the Bear Creek Rd. and Valley View
Reservoir projects seem to be underway.
I
Whether or not we make up for lost. time remains to be seen, but we seem now to
be able to address two or three of these target locations each year as we
planned. 9/95 revision: Bear Creek was installed in 1994.
Another form of water supply identified is tapping and storing spring water
for fire use. In 1988, EBMUD Watershed and Recreation started a project to
tap water above the Orinda Horsemen's Association facility, store it, and pipe
it down to El Toyonal . We provided a 2 112" wharf head for this purpose and
it is presently in service as an effective fire fill .
We have identified a similar potential fire fighting source by tapping into a
redwood storage tank on the west side of San Pablo Dam Rd. , as described
above. This source is still in the "imagineering" and feasibility stages. As
the program progresses, we will probably look at other natural water sovcces.
These installations are also intended to protect EBMUD facilities,
32
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20. 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT TOPIC 7
HYDRANT MARKINGS
It is important that engine companies be able to quickly determine the capabilities
of any hydrant that they are connecting to. Available flows and operating pressures
are significant factors in determining fire control tactics and strategy. Flow and
pressure information is extremely vital in communities such as Orinda where due to
elevation and older water mains, available flows and pressures can vary extremely.
Water Supply Operations has developed and implemented the following color coding
standards for the purpose stated above. In addition, we have provided symbols
indicating other important information on our hydrants-in an effort to avoid
critical mistakes during major fire operations.
I. Color Coding for Volume: (Hydrant tops coded, based on 1FPA standard color coding system)
RED: Flows less than 500 GPM (Very poor)
ORANGE: Flows between 500 GPM A 1000 GPM . (-Adequate for 1, ;possibly 2 structures)
GREEN: Flows between 1000 GPM & 1500 GPM (may safely defend 2 or 3 structures)
BLUE: Flows over 1500 GPM (May sustain major operations)
Notes: Flows rated at 20 p.s.i. residual. 'Structures• refer to typical 2000 FT2 home.
II. Color Coding for Pressure: (Hydrant caps coded, similar to Oakland system)
RED: Pressure less than 50 p.s.i . (Must have additional engine pump at hydrant)
ORANGE: Pressure between 50 & 120. p.s.i . (Pump or lay lines depending on operation)
GREEN: Pressure over 120 p.s.i . (Can override engine pressure controls)
III. Special Conditions: (Painted markings to.indicate special conditions)
Hydrant on dead. endimain,. water flows in direction of arrow
(Connecting to this hydrant will adversely affect downstream" companies)
(Other companies connecting 'upstream' will adversely affect flows from this hydrant.)
Last hydrant on a dead end main
(R) Hydrant on a regulator zone
(Flows will be limited. Quick shutdowns will blow water mains above regulator.)
IV. Hydrant Body Colors:
WHITE: Hydrant belongs to EBMUD and is attached to the EBMUD system
YELLOW: Hydrant is privately owned and maintained and is attached to
EBMUD or other approved system (e.g., BART, Caldecott Tunnel, Regional Parks)
RED: Special Operations Hydrant (e.g., draft plug, dry hydrant)
(Companies do not connect to these hydrants except for special operations.)
33
AW
- _.. ✓""
Through this marking system. a company officer can determine the specific
characteristics of hydrants available to him, select the best one to operate from
(if more than one is close by), and pian his fire operations accordingly.
Furthermore, by displaying highly visible volume and pressure colors. crews.gain a
better knowledge of the capabilities and limitations of their water system as they
drive through their respective districts.
34
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20, 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
TOPIC 8
HYDRANT MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
Ensuring that all of the hydrants are in good working order is an obvious priority.
Water Supply Operations has a developed a systematic approach to address this need.
The District has been divided up into nine hydrant maintenance routes. Each spring
a checklist is given to each captain which specifically lists about 75 hydrants.
..Each captain will take his company into the field during a three-week "window". and
perform the following tasks at each hydrant:
Location: Verify the hydrant is actually located where it is indicated on Fire
District maps.
Clearance: Removeanyobstacles, including large plants and brush, that may impede
immediate access to the hydrant, connection of hoses and use of
spanners. (This may include sending work orders to EBMUD to resolve
problems which require raising or moving a .hydrant.)
Caps: Remove and lubricate hydrant caps. Replace any missing or damaged caps.
Chains: Lubricate cap chains (to prevent binding when caps are removed.)
Replace missing chains in areas where caps disappear.
Valves: Operate hydrant valves. Make sure they open properly, close properly
and packings don't leak. (Aside from minor adjustments such as
tightening packing glands, valve problems are referred to EBMUD through
work orders.)
Pa,int: Verify that the hydrant body is painted -the correct color and that the
paint is in reasonably good condition. Touch up minor chips and rusty
spots. Refer hydrantsneeding major repainting to EBMUD.
Color Code: Verify caps and bonnets are painted the correct colors for the rated
flow and. pressure of the hydrant. Correct as necessary.
Blue Dots: Verify presence and condition of "blue dot" hydrant markers. Notify
district hydrant maintenance crew of any missing blue dots.
35
low
HYDRANT MAINTENANCE OPERATIONS
Continued
Gate Pots: Verify location of gate pot. Make sure it can be seen and cover is
painted white. If unable to locate or paved over, refer to EBMUD.
(Note: Gate pot identification accessibility is critical when a hydrant
is knocked off as the only way to shut down the hydrant supply is by
closing the valve inside the gate pot.)
Curb Paint: Verify presence of red zones in areas with concrete curbs where parking
in front of hydrants is a problem. Also check for gate pot locator
markings. Refer worn out curb paint to the district hydrant maintenance
crew.
.Markings: Verify presence of special markings on the hydrant including such items
as dead end main symbols, regulator zone symbols and gate pot locator
markings (direction arrow and distance in feet).
While most work is performed on the engine company level , a number of tasks require
specialized attention and equipment:and :are performed by the district hydrant
maintenance crew. These items include such tasks as heavy brush removal , gluing of
blue dots, posting of signs, installation of small retaining walls (Where dirt '
slides down around hydrant excavations), painting, etc. The hydrant crew is made up
of district personnel who have received training in hydrant maintenance and are
available on an overtime basis as needed.
Repairs and services that are beyond the scope of "user maintenance" are generally
performed by EBMUD. These items are turned in to EBMUD's East Area Yard, whereupon
they are fit into EBMUD's maintenance and repair schedule as their priority
dictates.
36
Y AV
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT November 20, 1991
WATER SUPPLY REPORT
TOPIC 9
WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLAN
I have discussed at length the various elements of the water supply system.
Overall , I would characterize EBMUD's management of.the water system as one of the
best. We do have, however, a number of areas of concern which are primarily the
result of a combination of our topography and the less sophisticated planning
processes of our predecessors.
This has left us with a number of areas that, are not properly defensible from the
threat of a fire of any significant magnitude. if a fire occurs in any of a number
of weak or "uncovered" areas during the right kind of weather, it will probably
spread faster than we can,,cope. .given. the. limited water resources there. Therefore
it is incumbentu on us as responsible�emergency planners to try to eliminate as
many of these weak areas as we possibly can in an effort to prevent a major
catastrophe from occurring. At the very least, we will reduce the number of areas
where a rapidly starting fire can escape. to threaten.the-entire community.
We have identified the problems. The next step in the process would be to develop a
list of specific improvements, which would likely include the items listed below.
This preliminary list isn't in any ,specific priority as the order of importance
would be affected by details which aren't clear yet, including a closer estimation
of actual moneys to be collected, realistic cost estimates for projects considered,
and feasibility opinions from EBMUD Engineering for more complicated projects.
Projects that would be considered:
Installing additional hydrants in areas poorly served.
Installing additional hydrants in certain locations where two zones converge,
so that a hydrant would be available from each zone where tactically
advisable.
Upgrading dead end mains that serve hydrants and which are less than 8"
diameter.
Upgrading all mains that serve hydrants which are less than 6" diameter.
Providing additional and/or larger regulators for regulator zones.
Installing a line from the Berkeley Hills Emergency Reservoir to Lomas
Contadas and Alta Vista, with alternative pumping capacity to the reservoir
from the Orinda side.
Providing automatic emergency backup for key pumping plants.
Providing additional storage capacity in critical areas.
Providing higher pressure water service to certain ridge-line areas.
37
WATER SUPPLY DEVELOPMENT ACTION PLAN
Continued
Before developing concepts any further, this water system development plan needs to
be discussed with EBMUD engineering for analysis and cost assessment. Once costs
are projected, funding options considered and. benefits calculated, it should be
presented to the community in time to implement and complete before the next ISO
grading. Should the community support it, we will have gone a long, way in reducing
. the potential of a fire from extending beyond the weaker elements of our water .
supply system. If the community rejects the idea, at least we will have formally
offered them a reasonable and affordable plan to mitigate the threat of a major
fire.
38
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
Water Supply Operations
------------
Fire Hydrant Testing Program
I. Background
The East Bay hills make fora complex network of water distribution equipment and
facilities. The topography presents a number of engineering obstacles not
ordinarily found in typical "flat" communities.
The water systems present are "terraced" into pressure zones. Each pressure zone is
designed to deliver from.about. 40 p.s. ,. at the top of the zone to about 120 p.s.i .
at the bottom of the zone, although these limits. are exceeded at a few locations
where it isn't feasible to develop a separate zone for a limited number of homes.
Water supply originates at the Orinda and Lafayette Filter Plants and ispimped from
there to a series of reservoirs and tanks. The water is pumped up through the
terraces from the first zone to the next higher zones in succession, with each zone
having a pumping plant which delivers water to the next zone above it. The
reservoirs and tanks in each zone provide reserve storage for peak customer demands
and fire fighting. : The size of each tank or reservoir is based largely upon the
size of the zone, smaller service areas having the smaller tanks and the larger
areas having reservoirs.
Much of this system is old, being placed in service around the 1930s. The
reliability and delivery capabilities of hydrants within this system differ greatly
from one area to the next, with the delineation between strong and weak areas
virtually transparent to fire fighting personnel . The age of the system lends
itself to a number of deficiencies and failures which must be closely monitored.
The safety .and effectiveness-of fire fighting personnel is greatlydependant upon a
water supply system which J s maintafnedgas well as is possible, prforms reliably,
and whose capabilities and limitations are clearly discernable to them.
1
• II. Mission Statement
The purpose of the fire hydrant testing program is to ensure the dependability of
water supply delivered by fire hydrants to fire fighting personnel my means of a
formal hydrant testing and data recording system. This system is designed to detect
malfunctioning and deficiently performing fire hydrants prior to personnel needing
them to support fireground operations. The data collected from hydrant testing will
also be used to base color coding and other visible markings important to fire
fighting personnel as well as for prioritizing system upgrades.
III. Objectives, General
Maintain "zero tolerance" for inoperative and malfunctioning fire hydrants; identify
all inoperable and malfunctioning fire hydrants and report them so repairs are made
before they are needed for fire fighting operations.
Maintain reasonably current flow test data on all .hydrants, no less than four years
old.
Utilize data collected to plot system performance trends, identify weak or failing
areas, and develop priorities and plans for system repairs and upgrades.
IV. Objectives, Specific
Determine available flows and static pressures for all hydrants and apply standard
markings to inform fire fighting personnel as to what flows and pressures can be
expected from each hydrant.
Identify pressure zones which are deteriorating, resulting in weaker performance,
and report same to the water district for analysis.
Identify hydrants which perform below the standards expected for a particular zone
and report same to the water district for analysis.
Maintain accurate records for use by the Fire Prevention Bureau, EBMUD Water Service
Planning, and engine company pre-incident planning.
2
V. Procedure
The hydrants in each station's response area will be divided into three hydrant
inspection and maintenance lists, one list being assigned to each engine company in
the station. (These lists will not always be coterminous with each station's
response area since some crossing of response areas was necessary to equalize
station workloads.)
One third of the hydrants in each company's response list will be flagged for flow
testing each year.
Each engine company will attempt to flow test all hydrants flagged for testing,
inspecting. but not discharging water from those hydrants which cannot be safely
tested with the equipment and personnel available.
Test data will be recorded and turned in to- the water supply officer for entering
into the hydrant data base.
Updated hydrant records will be published regularly and provided to the .Orinda
Branch Fire Prevention bureau and posted in the EBMUD —BlueBook" at Station 45.
3
VI. Data. Fields. and Testing Formulas
The following data fields will be maintained:
EBMUD I Cyd.#
Fire District HAI
City / Area
EBMUD Map Page.
Pressure Zone
Reservoir Name
Main Size
Purpose .of Testing
Test Crew I0
Test Date
Time of-Day
Hydrant Location
Hydrant Body Type (sets coefficient value)
Number/size of Outlets
Static Pressure
Residual Pressure
Pitot Pressure
Discharge Orifice Size
Observed' Fl ow "°`e 1
Available Flow NAeZ
Second Press-ure,.Reading Location
Type Reading (hosebi-b or, hydrant)
Static Pressure
Residual Pressure
Maintenance Route
Remarks
(Calculation notes appear on the next page)
4
a
Calculation notes:
Calculations are based on the Hazen-Williams formula, calculating residual
pressures at 20 p.s.i . , or one-half the static pressure for hydrants with
static pressures less than 40 p.s.i , whichever 7s less.
Note l: Observed Flow (OF) = 29.83 x coefficient x diameter squared x
square root of the pressure
Note 2: If Static Pressure (SP). > 40 p.s.i . , then Designated Residual (DR)
— 20 p.s.i .
If. Static Pressure (SP) <— 40 p.s.i . , then Designated Residual (DR)
= SP = 2
Residual: Drop (RD) -,SP - RP
Oropzone Pressure (DP) _ SP DR
Available Flow (AF)
Or x (DP to the .54th power) _ (RD to the .54th power)
V. Reports Generated
Reports typically generated from the hydrant and flow test data base include
Available flow reports for fire systems engineers
Hydrant inventory listing (complete)
Hydrant maintenance lists (biannual inspections)
Hydrant flow test lists (annual testing)
Hydrant flow-test sheets (annual testing)
Data range reports .(e.g..,. low. volume,. low pressure, etc.)
Examples of reports listed above are attached.
5
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY FIRE DEPARTMENT
Lafayette/Moraga/Orinda/West County Fire Prevention Bureau
: 33 Orinda Way
Orinda, CA 94513
(510) 254-1110
HYDRANT FLOW TEST DATA
Date: 06/15/94
Community: Tilden
EBMUD Map:. Tilden-9
Pressure Zone: TCY
Main Size: 6
Purpose: New H,yd
Agency ORN .
Tester(s) Lama
Reservoir TCY
PR'Stotus' NIA
HYDRANT TESTED
HYD:NO. LOCATION SP RP PP ' T DO SIZE OGPM AGPM
#HPRP19 Tilden Corp Yard nr. warehse 53 21 21 07:15 2� 0750 0750
ADDITIONAL READING
LOCATION SP' -RP RECORDED AT
Tilden Corp Yard / Entrance 51 27 Hosebib
xxxx Hydrant # HPRPIB
Hosebi b
Hydrant #
REMARKS: Private System
a..
ORINDA HYDRANTS BY PRINCIPLE STREETS Rev. 6-2-95
LOCATION SPEC. EBMUD PRS MAN LAST ST. RS1 RS2 PIT OBS. AVBL
GOND. MAP PAGE ZNE SIZ TEST DAT PRS PRS PRS PRS FLOW FLOW COLORS HYD-No. TYPE
Acacia Dr/Bacienda Cir (lover) 1509BS12 D5A 04 11/03/94 135 20 25 12 0580 0580 T/O CIG 154 M74
Acacia Dr/Hacienda Cir (higher) 150911512 DSA 04 11/03/94 95 10 20 12 0580 0540 T/O C/O 193 M74
Albo Ct @5 A 151OB496 06 00/00/85 95 : 10 0530 t T/0 C/O 117235 M74
Alta Baciendas, 115 1509BS14 08 00/00/85 30 18 25 0840 0940 T/0 C/R 1015035 M64
Alta Vista/Cm Del Monte A 1506B506 06 00/00/85 80 24 22 0785 0810 T/O C/O 1911104 M64
Altarinda Rd @7 -> 1512B506 08 00100/85 91 72 75 1455 2950 T/B C/O 1914539 M64
Altarinda Rd, 12 -> 1512B506 D5A 08 04/21/95 80 60 74 58 1275 2305 T/B C/O 116324 X75
Altarinda Rd @19 A 1512BS08 D5A 08 04/21/95 49 40 40 36 1005 1890 T/B C/R 114704 M64
(E)Altarinda Dr/Altarinda Cir ISISBS10 DIB 08 03/15/95 112 74 92 68 1380 2010 T/B C/O 116275 M74
(E)Altarinda/Ellen Ct 1515BSIO DIB 08 03/15/95 108 80 87 74 1440 2010 T/B CIO 116674 M74
(E)Altarinda/Hargan Cir 1515BSIO D7B 08 03/15/95 105 68 87 68 1380 2010 TIB C/O 116276 M74
(E)Altarinda Dr, 42 1515BS10 D7B 012 03/17/95 138 120 132 100 1675 3180 T/B C/G 1910138 M64
(E)Altarinda Dr, 58 151SB510 DIB 012 03/17/95 124 108 lib 100 1675 3180 TIB C/G 1010139 M64
Amber Valley Dr, 112 •> 1515BS18 06 00/00/85 94 60 57 1260 1925 T/B C/O 113988 M64
Amber Valley Dr, 142 A 1518BS18 06 00/00185 84 40 55 1245 1515 T/8 C/O 113991 M64
Aqua Vista/Nater Tank 151SB512 012 00/00/85 88 24 14 0630 0645 T/O C/O 1010270 M65
Aqua Vista/Water Tank P/A RED 1515B512 012 00/00/85 02 01 06 0410 0410 T/R.0/R 1910271 M64
Ardilla Rd, 7 1509B510 DSA 06 11/05/94 130 75 72 66 1360 1975 T/B C/G 110810 M75
Ardilla Rd, 34 1509BSlo 06 00/00/85 120 38 26 0860 0950 T/O C/O 1910405 M74
Ardilla Rd, 59 1509BS10 D5A 06 11/05/94 128 30 30 26 0855 0900 T/0 C/G 131 M64
Ardor Dr/Loma Linda Ct -> 1521B498 06 00/00/00 110 t 34 1090 ' TIG C/O 186 M74
Ardor Dr/Belson Ln ->� 1521B498 06 00100/85 117 60 40 1060 1410 T/G C/O 112297 M64
Avenida De'Orinda, 15 1512BS08 04 00/00/00 141 30 25 0840 0870 T/O C/G 116016 M75
Barbara Rd/Oak Rd 151SB502 08 00/00/91 122 60 58 1275 1665 TIB C/G 1014851 M64
Barbara Rd, 67 -> 1512B504 06 00/00/91 50 35 20 0750 1090 T/G C/R 119723 M74
Barbara Rd, 98 -> 1512BS04 08 00/00/92 110 50 50 1185 1475 T/G CIO 1018152 M64
BUT/KW 10 -> 1512BS06 DSA 08 04/09/95 94 70 NA 66 1360 2495 T/B CIO 1916501 M64
BART NE Pk.lot TEL A 1512BS06 DSA 06 04/09/95 112 80 NA 68 1380 2440 T/B C/O 1HP0002 M64
BART SW Pk.lot •> 1512ES06 DSA 08 05/28/95 110 50 100 44 1110 1380 T/G C/O .114729 M64
BART Vent Structure IEL A 1512B506 DSA 06 04/13/95 102 50 93 42 1085 1385 T/G C/O IRP0404 M64
Base Line Reservoir 1518B506 012 00/00/85 10 m 09 0500 0500 T/O CJR_1H10017 M74
Bates B1/Davis Rd 151SB506 D5A 08 05/08/95 107 70 NA 66 1360 2155 T/B CIO 116527 M75
Bates Bl/Muth Dr, (3) -> 1515B506 DSA 08 03/31/95 6S 39 43 39 1045 1405 T/G CIO 116528 M74
Bates B1/Muth Dr, (71) 1518B508 06 00/00/85 64 50 30 0920 1695 T/B CIO 110506 M75
Bates Bl/Tahos Rd 7 151OBSOO 08 00/00/85 68 50 35 0980 1680 T/B C/O 111690 HIS
Bates Bl/Warford Te -> 1515B508 D7A 06 03/31/95 80 41 51 39 1045 1315 T/G CIO 116531 M74
Bates BI, 22 A 1515B506 DIA 06 03/31/95 119 50 61 46 1135 1375 T/G CIO 116530 M74
Bates B1, 42 151511508 DIA 08 03/31/95 78 43 54 41 1070 1405 T/G C/O 118550 M74
Bates Bl, 56 1518B508 D7A 08 03/31/95 77 44 57 43 1100 1475 T/G C/O 118549 M74
Bates Ct, 107 A 151BB508 06 00/00/85 94 71 55 1245 2330 TIB CIO 111814 M75
Bear Creek Rd, 501 1506B512 08 00/00/92 160 70 70 1400 1775 T/B CIO 1910019 964
Bear Ridge Rd, 32 1509BS18 06 00/00/85 98 62 64 1345 2030 T/B C/O 112023 M64
Bear Ridge Rd, 51 1509B518 08 00/00/00 90 50 45 1125 1520 T/B CIO 117811 M74
Bear Ridge Tr, 315 1509BS18 08 00/00/85 130 90 80 1505 2590 T/B C/G 1R15815 M64
Bel Air Dr, 2 > 1521B504 06 00/00/85 139 102 71 1405 2645 T/B C/G 116535 M74
Bel Air Dr, 17 A 1521B504 D7A 06 05/12/95 81 26 NA 36 1005 1060 T/G C/O 118061 M74
Berkeley Ave/Rich Acres Rd 15,06B510 06 00/00/88 100 42 30 0915 1085 T/G CIO 111441 M74
Berkeley Hills Emergency Water Tank OAR 3146E 012 00/00185 11 11 09 0720 0720 T/O C/R 110701 M64
Berrybrook Hollow, (end)! A 1509B516 08 00/00/92 95 50 56 1255 1650 T/B CIO 1818114 M64
QW.
HYDRANT MAINTEN M LIST: 43-A
Rev. 6-2-95
LOCATION SPEC.TYP. FLOW ST. AVBL COLORS HYD. LOCA CLR- CAPS CAP VLVS PVT CLR BLDE GATE CDRB MRK- INSp M
M. DATE FLOW No. TION NCB OK CHAS OK OK CODE DOT POT PWT INGS
Gardiner Ct, (Lot 12) -> M64 T90 140 0980 T/0 C/G #818177
Gardiner Ct, (Lot 161 -> M64 T90 132 0860 7/0 C/G 1H18176
Tigertail Ct, 91 ->� M64 T95 63 1790 T/B C/O 1818179 —
Tigertail Ct, 67 -> M64 195 74 2640 T/B CIO #818178 —
Tigertail Ct, 51 975 T95 110 3180 T/B C/0 1HIM8
Tappan Ln, 6 975 T85 142 3180 T/B C/G 111439 —
Tappan Ln/Tappan Ct M74 785 86 1750 T/B C/0 1162 —
Hidden Ln, 5 K64 T85 55 1460 T/G C/O 115084 _
Tappan bOdden Ln M75 T85 46 0835 T/O C/0 117012 _—
Tappan Ln, 42 964 T85 32 0740 T/0 C/R 114841 _
Tappan Ln P53 - RED 964 T85 15 0170 T/R C/R 1814101 —
Tappan Te, 315 M64 785 44 0485 T/R CA 1014100 —
Tappan WBear Ridge Rd 964 U 38 1205 T/G CA 117810 —
Tappan Hy, 1 1 - M64 T85 20 0355 T/R C/R 1115816
Tappan khappan Wy M64 Tx 32 0570 7/0 C/R 1113156 — — —
Bear Ridge Rd, 51 X74 Tx 90 1520 T/B C/0 112023 — —
Bear Ridge Rd, 32 M64 T85 98 2030 T/B C/O 112023
Bear Ridge Tr, 315 M64 T85 130 2590 T/B C/G 1815815
Tarry WBear_Ridge Lu M64 T85 148 3180 T/B C/G 1814672
Sunnyside Ln, 8 975 T$5 148 .2620 T/B C/G 111406. — ——
bmyside l jVia Callados 975 T85 110 .1805 T/B C/O 111405 — — —— ——
Via Callados, 21 A X75 T85 78 1225 T/G 0 111409 — — ————
Smmyside Ln, 48 -> M75 T85 115 2600 T/B C/O 111407 —
Sunnyside Ct, 9 > M75 T85 70 0935 T/O C/O 111408
Sunnyside Ln, 64 ->i K64 T85 84 1680 T/B C/O 1113265 — —
{ Sunnyside Ln, 88 _ SPCL RED M64 T85 me na T/z C/z 1HPOF03 — —
Crane Te, 115 A M64 T95 80 .1075 T/G C/O 1H10871 — —
Van Tassel Ln/Crane Te -> 974 T95 130 2010 T/B C/G 183 —
Van Tassel Ln/Van RipperLn 974 T95 140 3180 T/B C/G 1106 — ——
Van Ripper Ln/St. JamesCt 974 T95 134 2010 T/B C/G 1121 — —
Van Ripper Ln/Irving Ln M64 T95 145 3180 T/B UG 112689 — —
Irving La/Irving Ct A M64 T95 88 1315 T/G CIO 115294 —
Lombardy La/Irving Lo -> M74 795 90 2010 T/B C/O 184 — —
Van Ripper Ln, 100 N74 T95 92 1610 T/B C/O 119955
Lombardy Ln/Van Ripper Lo (73) M74 T95 160 2010 T/B C/G 168 --
Lodm*Ln/Dalevood Dr MR T85 140 3180 .T/B C/G 113989 —
Dalevood Dr, 489 M64 T85 148 3180 T/B C/G 113985 _ _ —
Dalevood Dr, 457, M64 T85 142 3180 T/B C/G 113986 —
Dalevood Te A M64 T85 104 3180 T/B C/0 1813224 —
Dalevood Dr, 383 M64 T95 11$ 3180 T/B C/O 1811393 —
Dalevood Dr/Park M64 T95 102 3180 T/B C/O 1811394 — —
Ixation: Remarks:
x
r
a.
TEST ROOTS BY STATIONISHIFT:
LOCATION SPEC. TYP MAIN FLOW ST. RBS PIT OBS. AVBL COLORS HYD.No. SBMOD COMMENTS
CORD. SIZE DATE PRS PRS PRS FLOW FLOW MAP PAGE
Sta. 43/A (26 Hydrants)
Zone D9C (Valley View)
Diablo View Rd/Tamalpias View Rd S74 M6 Tx 62 50 30 0920 1795 T/B C/0 158 1518B516
Diablo View Rd/Yosemite Rd S74 M12 Tx 38 26 18 0710 0905 T/0 C/R 119006 1518B514
Charles Hill Rd/Soule Rd -> S64 M6 Tx 15 45 30 0920 1265 TIG CIO 112690 1518BS14
Soule Rd, 1 A S64 M6 Tx 80 34 34 0980 1125 TIG C/O 113628 151OB514
Charles Hill Cir, 37 -> S74 M4 Tx 54 15 07 0440 0405 T/R C/O 116718 151OB512
Charles Hill Cir, 25 -> S74 M4 Ti 105 14 06 0410 0395 T/R C/0 171-L 1510BS12
Charles Hill Cir/South Point Rd -> $64 M4 T79 124 05 07 0440 0405 T/R C/G 113194 151OB512
Charles Hill Cir, 15 A S74 M4 Tx ISO 10 10 0590 0505 T/O CIG 116717 1518B512
Charles Rill Rd @41 S64 M6 Tx 70 20 30 0920 0920 T/4 C/O 123_, 1518B514
Charles Rill Rd/Oak Flat Rd S64 M6 T85 90 26 30 0920 0960 T/0 C/O 113801 1518B512
Roney Hill Rd 133 S75 M6 Tx 116 50 32 0950 1155 T/G C/O 110626 15IBB514
Zone D7B (Las Aromas)
E1 lido Ranch Rd/Charles Hill Rd -> S64 M8 Ti 115 98 70 1405 .2910 :T/B C/G 114814 1518BSIO
Charles Hill Rd/Charles Rill Cir (18) -> S74 M6 Tx 90 65 10 0530 0920 1/0 C/o 129-L 151OBS12
Charles Rill Rdfloney Hill Rd S74 M6 Ti 45 10 05 0380 0310 T/R C11 116668 151OB512
Zone D9C (Valley View)
E1 Gavilan/Mira Flores S74 M6 Tx 52 12 10 0530 0465 T/R C/O 1112 151SB514
E1 Gavilan, 63 S74 M6 T85 48 01 06 0410 0305 T/R C/R 1110985 1515B514
E1 Gavilan, 45 S64 M6 Tx 80 20 12 0580 0580 T/0 C/O 119007 151SB514
E1 Gavilan, 15 S74 M6 Tx 110 27 20. 0750 0780 TIO C/O 189 151SB514
La Campana, 53 -> S74 M6 Tx 130 30 20 0750 0785 T/O CIG 117924 1512BS14
.� La.Campana/La Punta -> S64 M6 Tx 118 21 15 0650 0650 T/O C/O 114460 1512BS14
La CampanajBl Campanero A S64 M6 Ti 120 : 10 0530 : T/0 CIO 133 1512BS12
Las Vegas/Las Palomas S74 M6 Tx 94 30 20 0750 0810 TIO C/0 159 1515B511
Las Palomas W18 S65 M6 Tz 110 30 15 0650 0685 T/0 C/O 112824 151SES14
?
11 Verano, 20 ->( S64 M4 Tx 22 10 15 0650 0615 T/O C/G 119 1515B512
Las Vegas/Las Vegas Ct S64 M6 Tx 190 20 18 0710 0710 T/0 C/G 111987 1515B514
Las Vegas/Via Las Cruces _ S74 M6 Tx 120 50 32 0950 1145 TIG C/O 190 151SB512
low
HYDRANT LIST: WEE HYDRANTS Rev. 6-5-95
LOCATION SPEC. EBMDD PRS MAN LAST ST. RS1 RS2 PIT OBS. AVBL
i COND. MAP PAGE ZNE SIZ TEST DAT PRS PRS PRS PRS FLOW FLOW COLORS HYD-No. TYPE
'! Aqua Vista/Water Tank P/A RED 15158511 012 00/00/85 02 01 06 0410 0410 T/R C/R 1H10271 M64
Bien Venida/Kest Wy -d 1512B512 D7B 06 10/25/94 120 11 1 09 0500 0475 T/R C/O (18254 M74
Bruns Amphitheater, rater tank TEL N/A 04 00/00/91 06 04 04 0335 0335 T/R C/R 1HP0008 W2
Caldecott Tn/abv.Bore 3 YEL N/A 08 00/00/85 45 10 05 0410 0310 T/R C/R 1HPCT02 M75
Cm Del Diablo, 21 -> 15068508 04 00/00/85 54 05 09 0500 0410 T/R C/O 1H11671 M64
Cm Del Diablo, 41, DRY -d 1506B508 04 00/00/00 60 10 08 0480 0415 T/R C/0 139 M22
Cm Don Miguel, 127 1509B512 D5A 04 10/05/94 42 05 12 04 0335 0250 T/R C/R 116970 M74
Cm Encinas, 80 151SB502 D5A 04 01/17/95 98 10 28 10 0530 0495 T/R C/O 114461 M65
Central Park Dr/BBC YEL TILDEN 2 03 00/00/85 204 27 02 0240 0240 T/R C/G 1HPRP01 XW2
Central Park Dr/Little Farm TEL TILDEN 2 03 00/00/85 204 10 01 0180 0160 T/R C/G IRPRP02 MW2
Charles Hill Cir/South Point Rd -> 1518B512 D9C 04 12/01/94 131 10 12 04 0335 0315 T/R C/G 113194 M64
Charles Hill Cir, 15 15188512 D9C 04 12/01/94 150 12 NA 04 0335 0320 T/R CIG 116717 M74
Charles Hill Cir, 25 -> 1518BS12 04 00/00/00 105 14 06 0410 0395 T/R C/0 171-L M74
Charles Hill Cir, 37 -> 151OB512 119C 04 12/01/94 53 14 20 05 0375 0340 T/R C/0-116718 M74
Charles. Hill Rd/Honey Hili Rd A 1518BS12 D7B 06 03/17/95 40 8 10 07 0440 0340 T/R C/R 116668 M74
Charles Hill Rd @41 15188514 D9C 06 12/01/94 38 06 NA 05 0355 0265 T/R C/0 123 M64
Dolores Wy/Rita Wy 1521B494 D5Ac 06 00/00/91 50 08 08 0470 0390 TJR C/R 112707 M64
Dolores Wy @ 10 A 1518B494 DSAc 06 12/30/94 55 08 18 10 0530 0450 T/R C/O 1019258 M64
EBW Filter Plant/NE side 1509B510 04 00/00/85 142 02 05 0410 0345 T/R CIG IR10013 M74
81 Rincon @25 P/A RED 15068508 08 00/00/85 10 07 05 0380 0490 T/R C/R 111989 X75
El Toyonal/La Madronal P/A RED 1506B508 117C 06 01/30/95 45 10 10 10 0530 0440 T/R C/R 1019550 M64
Bl Toyonal/Lama Vista (upperl -> 15068508 D7C 06 10/25/94 45 05 25 09 0500 0385 T/R C/0 147 X75
E1 Toyonal/Wildcat Canyon Rd (OU) TEL N/A 02 00/00/85 90 xxx 02 0150 xxxx T/R C/0 IRPEB02 MW2
Fish Ranch Rd/Caldecott Tn TEL N/A 08 00/00/85 32 00 05 0410 0260 T/R C/R 1HPCT01 M75
Gillespie Youth Camp YEL TILDEN 8 02 00/00/85 122 xxx 01 0110 xxxx T/R C/G IRPRP16 MW2
Golf Course Dr nr Grizzley Peak Bl TEL TILDENxx 03 00/00/85 210 xxx 08 0480 0450 T/R C/G IRPRP14 MW2
Heather Ln, 23 (R) -> 1518BS02 D5Ab 06 01/21/95 42 12 10 10 0530 0445 T/R C/R 1H11048 M64
La Cintilla, 25 (R) -> 1512BS14 06 00/00/85 40 05 08 0470 0345 T/R C/R 114891 M64
La Cuesta/Cascade Ln -> 1512B510 D7B 06 10/07/94 144 10 14 05 0375 0355 T/R C/G 121 M74
La Cuesta/Via Farallon -> 1512BS10 D7B 06 10/07/94 115 05 18 04 0335 0305 T/R C/O 110628 M75
La Cuesta @91 A 1512B510 D7B 04 10/07/94 70 16 60 08 0470 0450 T/R C/O 137 M74
Laguna Reservoir (Fire Trail 44-3) 1515B498 08 00/00/85 10 xxx 02 0235 0170 T/R C/R 1010019 MW2
Lake Anza Service Rd nr Complex YEL TILDEN 5 03 00/00/85 65 xxx 05 0150 xxxx T/R C/O IHPRP07 MW2
Linda Vista, 21 A 1512B510 04 00/00/85 92 06 04 0340 0300 T/R C/0 (10337 M74
Little Farm Shop (EBRPD) TEL TILDEN-5 02'b 00/00/90 207 10 02 0235 0220 T/R C/G JHPRP04 XW2
Loma Vista/La Bolsita > 1509B508 D7C 04 10/25/94 138 01 01 05 0375 0345 T/R C/G 126 M65
Los Dedos/El Pulgar > 1515B512 D9C 04 04/01/95 108 01 08 03 0305 0270 T/R C/O 111442 M74
Los Norrabos/Dos Osos Tank (in fence) 1506B506 08 00/00/85 10 xxx 03 0290 xxxx T/R C/R IRIO016 MW2
Merry-go-round/Lake Anza Rd TEL TILDEN 4 02 00/00/85 155 xxx 12 0235 xxxx T/R CIG fHPRP05 MW2
Mira Lama/E1 Patio/Linda Vista (R) M1>� 1512BSOS 06 00/00/85 124 12 06 0410 0390 T/R C/G 134 M74
Oak Rd, 14 > 1S12B504 06 00/00/91 40 10 10 0530 0425 T/R C/R 1H14853 M64
Patrick Ln, 4 > 1521B504 D7A 08 11/02/94 102 20 23 08 0470 0470 T/R CIO 1H16161 M64
Patrick Ln, 1 > 1521B504 D7A 08 00/00/87 92 10 08 0470 0435 T/R C/O (816162 M64
Ranch Rd, 18 > 1515B516 04 00/00/85 155 10 09 0500 0480 T/R CIG 110409 M74
Redwood Valley RR Maint. Shop TEL TILDEN10 02X 00/00/85 35 xx 06 0165 xxxx T/R C/R IHPRP17 MW2
Sunrise Hill Rd, 22 A ISISB500 DSAb 06 11/04/94 50 08 20 07 0440 0365 T/R C/O fH19436 M64
Tappan Ln @53 RED 15098518 012 00/00/85 15 02 02 0235 0170 T/R C/R 1014101 M64
Tappan Te, 315 1509ESIB 08 00/00/85 44 16 10 0530 0485 T/R C/R (814100 M64
Tappan Wy, I 1509B518 08 00/00/85 20 07 06 0410 0355 T/R C/R IH15816 M64
Tarabrook Rd, 18 > 1518BS06 06 00/00/85 62 16 09 0500 0475 T/R C/0 119183 M74
Vallecito Ln, 24 ->� 1506BS08 06 00/00/00 130 15 08 0480 0455 TJR CIG 110304 M74
Via Farallon, 6 (R) > 1512B510 06 00/00/85 82 10 08 0480 0430 T/R C/O X18 M74
Via Hermosa, 18 -d 1512B512 D7B 04 04/01/95 80 5 10 03 0305 0270 T/R C/O 127 M74
Wildcat Canyon Rd/Brazilian Bldg. TEL TILDBN 6 03 00/00/85 160 04 12 0235 0205 T/R C/G 1HPRP10 MW2
Brazilian Bldg/Pk. TUt YEL TILDEN 6 03 00/00/85 88 x 05 0135 x T/R C/O ISPRP09 MP1
ORINDA FIRE PROTECTION DISTRICT
Water Supply Operations
------------
Fire Hydrant Fill In Program
I. Background
Much of Orinda's water system is old, pre-dating the East Bay Municipal Utility District.
The original "Orinda Water Works" provided water service to much of the area, primarily
serving ranches and vacation homes. A great number of water mains in "original"
neighborhoods were placed in service around the 1930s.
The Orinda Fire Protection District was established in 1933, and its standards for
required hydrant design and spacing prior to World War II were minimal. Although many
lots were not developed, most of the community was subdivided and housing construction was
primarily on an individual "fill-in" basis.
Accordingly, many older Orinda neighborhoods are served by inadequate hydrants, with
spacing between hydrants considered grossly excessive by today's standards. The fire
district did not have the authority to require single lot developers to install additional
fire hydrants, so the responsibility for providing "fill in" hydrants fell to the fire
district.
In the 1960s. Assistant Fire Chief Robert Miraglio initiated a program of systematic
filling in of fire hydrant .gaps by budgeting for eight to ten fire hydrant installations
per fiscal year. Under this program, company officers from each station area flagged
areas of greatest concern and approximately three hydrants were installed at fire district
expense in each station's area. (The actual number of hydrants installed each year was
inconsistent since installation costs could vary considerably from one site to another.)
After passage of Proposition 13, the hydrant fill-in program was discontinued in order to
redirect funds to other needed areas. After the retirement of Asst. Chief Miraglio,
Capt. Willis Lamm became the water supply officer and attempted to resurrect the fill-in
program.
Due to continued funding shortages and other priorities, hydrants were installed on an
opportunistic" basis, meaning that hydrants were installed when:
A. The fire .district could require developers to install hydrants and they could
be located so as to also protect preexisting areas,
B. EBMUD would offer a discount on installation costs because they were
replacing street mains at the same time,
C. The fire district could convince other agencies to share costs, or
D. The fire district could convince EBMUD to justify funding installations on a
basis that the hydrants would also protect EBMUD facilities and/or watershed
lands.
At this time, most of the opportunistic situations- have been addressed. With the.
exception of scheduling hydrant fill-ins during water main construction, the fire district
will once again have to fund hydrants on a "retail cost" basis.
With the designation of the Lamorinda area as a "high fire hazard" area, it is more
imperative than ever for the fire district to continue to focus on deficient areas so that
a fire starting in one of these areas has a lesser chance of growing out of control and
spreading throughout the community.
Using the "high fire hazard" designation as a sales tool , Water supply Operations will
initiate a prQIect in FY 1995/96 involving meeting with neighborhood groups in hopes of
developing new cost sharing plans, this time involving homeowners, in order to maximize
the effectiveness of fire district expenditures.
IL Mission Statement
The purpose of the fire hydrant fill-in rogram is to ensure that areas with inadequate
hydrant spacing will be mitigated in a planned and orderly manner, maximize cost savings
by exploiting available opportunities, organize and assist various groups and persons of
interest to contribute cooperatively to the program, and to manage an overall water supply
standards policy.
III. Objectives, General
A. 90% of Orinda residences (structures) will be within 800 feet of the nearest
fire hydrant
B. 100% of Orinda commercial occupancies
apartments and places of public
assembly will be within 500 feet of the nearest hydrant
C. Hydrants in strong pressure zones will be located as necessary to supplement
water supply in "grossly inadequate" zones (zones which produce an aggregate
flow of less than 500 GPM)
D. All in-service fire hydrants, excepting watershed / rural water supply
hydrants, will meet minimum design criteria.
E. Cooperative efforts with will be developed and exploited whenever possible
allied agencies, developers, business groups, neighborhood and special
interest groups, and interested individuals to fund installations on a shared
cost basis.
F. Assistance will be provided to any neighborhood wishing to implement ,a
special assessment area.
IV. Objectives, Specific
A. Establish a priority list of areas needing fire hydrants
1. Requestcompany officer input from each station area
2. Revise and update the priority list regularly; at least once per year
B. Review scheduled EBMUD projects to determine if planned construction projects
present any opportunities for discounted installations.
C. Review developer plans to determine if planned projects and hydrants required
for same would mitigate any established priorities.
D. Review established EBMUD facility sites to determine if facility hydrants
would mitigate any established priorities.
E. Schedule at least 4 meetings with interested neighborhood groups to promote
and organize special assessment areas and/or cost sharing arrangements.
F. Budget for at least 6 hydrant fill-ins per fiscal year (2 per station area)
V. Procedure
A. Identify all areas of inadequate hydrant spacing and develop a list.
law
B. Prioritize the list utilizing feedback from company officers.
C. Review and revise the priority list as necessary; at least once per year.
D. Maintain contacts with EBMUD regarding construction projects in poorly
hydranted areas.
E. Develop -contacts with neighborhood groups and associations in poorly
hydranted areas.
F. - Budget for ten hydrant installations per year.
G. Plan and implement "opportunity" and cooperative installations.prior Ao- May
1st each year.
H. Plan and order remaining hydrant.Anstallations as remaining funds permit
according to the priority list for each station area, for installation and
invoicing prior to June 30th year.
I. Prepare- a-year-endpr.ogram -report prior to July 31, covering the program
a I ctivities for the previous fi scal- year.,.
HYDRANT AND WATER-
YSTEM PRIORITIES
As of July 26. 1995
PRI- # HOMES
t
ORITY LOCATION SiTUATION AFFECTED COMMENTS
1 Via Hermosa Bad main 20 "red water"
Add'l hydrant needed
2 Los Dedos. El Pulgar Bad main 19 Contact-
Add'l hydrant needed Pat Dunn
3 Charles Hill Rd 13-47. Bad main 68
Charles, Hili Circle, Add'l hydrants needed
Charles Hill in. ,
So. Potnt. Rd. ,
Hartford Rd. .
Oak flat Rd. ,
Daphine Ct.
4 Via Farallon, Bad Mains 73
Linda.Vista Undersized Regulator
EI Patio, Add"l hydrants needed
Mira Loma.
La xesta 7-82,
Cascade Ln.
5 Sanborn Rd. No hydrant 12
s 6 Cm. OQn Miguel 107-170 Bad main 21
Add'l hydrant needed
7 Loma Vista 8-40 Bad main 29
Los Connejos Add'l hydrant needed
La-:Bolsita
8 La Madronal No hydrant 16
Madrone Pl.
South Trail
9 Sandhili Rd 25, No hydrant 3
Modoc Rd.
Winding Way.
10 Wanda Ln:. No hydrant 3
11 Cm. Dei Diablo 15-69 Bad main 22
12 Valley View Rd 20-32 No hydrant 10
Jewel Ct.
13 Alta Vista 62-67 No hydrant 3
14 Patrick Ln. Bad supply main 5
15 Parklane Dr. No hydrant 20
low