Whose Hydrant Is It Anyway? Confusion on Mall Tunnel Hydrant Responsibility. Also, 29 Percent Failure Rate at Water Authority HQ Property.
(Watch my report from 9News Now at 5:00 p.m.)
STATter 911 has learned that one of the properties in the Nation’s Capital with a high hydrant failure rate is the grounds of the headquarters for the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA). According to sources familiar with the recent inspection, seven of the 24 fire hydrants at the Blue Plains Sewage Treatment Plant were not working. That’s a 29 percent failure rate.
WASA is a quasi-independent agency responsible for maintaining the large majority of the almost 10,000 fire hydrants in the District of Columbia. The inspections were conducted by D.C. firefighters who are in the process of finishing a city-wide hydrant inspection program.
As STATter 911 first reported Tuesday evening, one area with an extremely high hydrant failure rate is the city’s 3rd Street Tunnel. More than 75 percent of the fire hydrants in the tunnel do not work. But in this case, a WASA spokesperson says it’s not their fault.
While D.C. Fire & EMS Chief Dennis Rubin is optimistic that water will flow again within the next two weeks, someone still has to figure out who has the responsibility for maintaining the tunnel hydrants.
In multiple phone calls today to both the D.C. Water and Sewer Authority (WASA) and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation (DDOT), spokespersons for each told STATter 911 the other agency is the responsible party. WASA’s Michelle Quander-Collins said that two different sets of hydrants, in two separate portions of the tunnel, clearly belong to DDOT. According to Quander-Collins, representatives of DDOT took responsibility during a meeting with WASA officials today.
But DDOT’s Erik Linden said that may not be the case. Linden, who first directed our questions to WASA, now believes there could be some shared responsibility. Either way, both sides have said they will work with D.C. firefighters to get to the bottom of the problem.
Chief Rubin confirms 28 of the 36 hydrants are not working. The broken hydrants were discovered during one of the final phases of the 4-month-long testing program run by D.C. Fire & EMS. The tests began after two broken hydrants were discovered during an April 30th fire that destroyed much of the Georgetown public library. City-wide the failure hydrant failure rate is near 10 percent.
The 3rd Street Tunnel carries I-395 under the National Mall and connects the Southwest-Southeast Freeway to New York Avenue. In the southern section of the tunnel, closest to the U.S. Capitol, there are 22 hydrants that were built into the wall. D.C. Fire & EMS says that 20 of those hydrants aren’t working.
In the northern tunnel, between Massachusetts Avenue and New York Avenue, there are 14 more traditional hydrants. These hydrants are similar to ones you will find on most surface streets. Officials say 8 of those hydrants can’t be used.
Chief Rubin has ordered extra equipment and firefighters to be dispatched to any reports of fire in the tunnel. Rubin is scheduled to meet with WASA General Manager Jerry Johnson on Thursday to try and work out an agreement for future testing. Chief Rubin says his department will need equipment and funding from WASA to do the required twice-yearly testing.
STATter 911 has obtained a copy of a proposed memorandum of understanding that Chief Rubin will present to WASA during the meeting:
-DRAFT-
Memorandum of Understanding
Between
The District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority and the
District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) is entered into and shall be effective as of June 5, 2007, by and between the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority (WASA), an independent Authority of the Government of the District of Columbia and the District of Columbia Fire and Emergency Medical Services (FEMS) together the Parties.
RECITALS
Whereas, WASA and FEMS have been meeting in joint sessions over the past year relative to the Hydrant Upgrade Program (Program); and
Whereas, this Program (requested in a letter by then Fire and EMS Chief Adrian H. Thompson dated November 16, 2006 and reaffirmed by Fire and EMS Chief Dennis L. Rubin, in a letter dated April 26, 2007) modifies all hydrants by changing the DC-4 inch threaded nozzle connection to a 4.5 inch NST specification compliant with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) colorization standard; and
Whereas, this modification will indicate the available flow of water in gallons per minute (GPM) and that FEMS will petition NFPA to use color coded bands rather than painting the hydrants as per the standard; and
Whereas, the initial phase of the Program will focus on upgrading approximately 3,500 hydrants through replacement of hydrants; and
Whereas, the initial phase of the Program will also include an as yet undetermined number of hydrants that will be retrofitted with the 4.5 inch NST connection; and
Whereas, WASA and FEMS acknowledge and are prepared to address the operational challenges arising from a hydrant inventory with two different sized nozzle connections; and
Whereas, WASA and FEMS wish to work together to efficiently and effectively implement the Program; and
Whereas, WASA and FEMS wish to memorialize their commitments with regards to the Program through the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU);
Now therefore, in consideration of the promises contained herein, and other consideration the receipt and sufficiency of which are mutually acknowledged, the Parties hereto agree as follows:
1.00 Inclusion of Recitals
The Parties agree to the inclusion of the recitals as part of this MOU as though the recitals were stated in full herein.
2.00 Obligations of FEMS
2.01 FEMS shall inspect District of Columbia (DC) fire hydrants by Engine Company on an annual basis to collect fire hydrant condition data. The Parties agree that the first year shall be considered completed by the end of August 2007. FEMS shall utilize the established field data forms used by WASA as may be modified from time-to-time or an agreed to technology that may be approved by the Parties to share the data collected with WASA.
2.02 FEMS shall immediately notify WASA’s command center of any out- of- service or damaged fire hydrants detected during the course of its inspections.
2.03 FEMS shall provide to WASA electronically on at least a weekly basis, a complete file of all fire hydrant survey data collected during field assessments.
2.04 FEMS shall work diligently with WASA to identify those fire hydrants they deem to be in high risk areas in order to assess the need for custodial locks to prevent theft of service and vandalism to the fire hydrants.
2.05 FEMS shall appoint a principal contact to help coordinate this hydrant upgrade program.
3.00 Obligations of WASA
3.01 WASA shall share all fire hydrant data with FEMS which is collected during the course of WASA’s flushing program, infrastructure contract work, and distribution main and repair work.
3.02 WASA shall investigate each FEMS hydrant out-of-service report within 24-hours. WASA shall repair an out-of-service fire hydrant within five (5) business days or replace the out-of-service fire hydrant within ten (10) business days (a business day is defined as Monday through Friday exclud
ing holidays.)
3.03 WASA shall repair or replace an out-of-service fire hydrant that has an operational impact on FEMS within forty-eight (48) hours. An example of an operational impact would be the detection of multiple out-of-service fire hydrants within the same block.
3.04 WASA’s command center shall immediately upon notification by FEMS report out-of service fire hydrants to the Office of Unified Communications.
3.05 WASA shall distribute a joint report (WASA and FEMS) showing the status of hydrants inspections, out-of-service hydrants, and returned to service hydrants in a format agreed to by FEMS and WASA. The hydrant assessment numbers shall be reported based on actual information collected in the field and that this information shall be shared between both agencies. WASA will report the information on its website daily and make it available to the general public in the format and reporting period agreed upon by the Parties.
3.06 WASA will flow test hydrants replaced or retrofitted during this Program and affix color coded bands to the hydrants indicating flow rate; and
3.07 WASA shall work diligently with FEMS to identify those fire hydrants in high risk areas in order to assess the need for custodial locks to prevent theft of services and vandalism of fire hydrants.
3.08 WASA’s Department of Water Services shall propose a capital program to replace any remaining fire hydrants that are not NFPA compliant and cannot be retrofitted with the 4.5 inch nozzle after the assessments to be undertaken pursuant to this Program are completed and those fire hydrants are identified.
3.09 WASA shall appoint a principal contact to help coordinate this hydrant upgrade program.
4.00 Importance of FEMS Employees’ Safety
Both Parties recognize that FEMs employees are at greater risk of injury when hydrants are equipped with the plastic sprinkler devices that are installed during the summer months for cooling purposes, especially when they are glued to the hydrant. Therefore, the Parties hereby agree that such plastic devices shall not be used under the Program.
5.00 Term
This MOU shall be effective until terminated in writing by either WASA or FEMS or both.
6.00 Miscellaneous
6.01This MOU contains the entire agreement between the Parties. No change or modification can be made unless the same is in writing and signed by the Parties.
6.02 This MOU can not be assigned by either Party.
6.03 This MOU may be executed in two (2) or more counterparts all of which shall have the same force and effect.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Parties hereto have caused this Memorandum of Agreement to be effective as of the date first written above.
GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
FIRE AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES
_______________________________________
By: Dennis L. Rubin
Title: Fire and EMS Chief
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA WATER AND SEWER AUTHORITY
________________________________________
By: Jerry N. Johnson
Title: General Manager
