Story Archive

Doesn’t Hold Water

Firefighters in several small towns in Pennsylvania are upset with the local water utility, the Bear Valley Joint Authority, after the agency welded closed the largest opening on all of the fire hydrants it controls — without consulting with, or even notifying, area fire departments. “We have in the past notified the fire departments that the ‘steamer connection,’ one of three connections on the fire hydrants, is not to be used due to the possibility of creating a negative pressure on our distribution system which could cause our pipes to collapse,” explained BVJA manager Glynn Kindelan. “I’ve never heard of collapsing a water line with a fire truck,” said Dale Carbaugh, the Fire Chief of Mercersburg, Montgomery, Peters and Warren Fire Company. “It almost makes me laugh.” Mark Trace, Chief of Franklin Fire Department, agreed: “If a negative pressure is created in the system by a fire engine, what will collapse first, the soft fire hose or the metal water mains?” (RC/Chambersburg Public Opinion) ...What will collapse first? BVJA’s finances, immediately upon the first lawsuit filed by a burned-out homeowner.