NOVFA's Water Movement Class (actually a tender shuttle) at the Fire School on March 11, 2017 showed the verstility in the region. There are several vacuum tankers mixed in with non-vacuum tankers in this area. The Water Supply Tactical Advisory Committee along with ISO showcased this versatility in setting up the class.
The 1500 GPM pumper from Kalida was at the fill site loading both vacuum and non-vacuum tankers. The dry hydrant capacity, however, was only 1100 GPM.
A 1250 GPM pumper from Grand Rapids was at the unload (fire) site applying water. Mathematics prove it is more feasible for a large pump to meet the capacity of a smaller pump than vice-versa.
Each tanker was asked to pause 4 minutes after loading AND unloading to simulate the ISO required 2 mile drive. At times the pause was longer as tankers often had to wait to dump into the 2 drop tanks.
If this pumper tried to transfer water from one drop tank to another, the discharge rate could not maintain 1000 GPM.
Anytime a tanker has to wait to load or unload water is NOT moving and adjustments should be made.
The fill site pumper's capacity and subsequent water flow rate was enhanced by running water into a drop tank in front of the pumper from which vacuums could load.
The vacuum units' rates could also have been increased by loading directly from the pond as well as the drop tank in front of the pumper and rather than the pumper itself.