Homemade Siphon for Portable Tanks
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Photos by Randy Watts
The use of an easily constructed siphon is one of the reasons many rural fire departments in Cumberland County, Pa., can maintain a minimum water delivery rate of 1000 gpm.
The ability to deliver flows in this range requires many apparatus improvements and especially the use and understanding of portable reservoirs. Training exercises and fireground operations have shown these flows are achievable and in several cases, flows approaching 1700 gpm have been maintained for several hours.
The key elements to success in moving water in this quantity in rural areas include proper tanker design and utilization, good management of the water supply operation and multiple portable reservoirs at the dump site. Multiple reservoirs allow for greater tanker dumping efficiency by allowing several tankers to dump simultaneously.
To more effectively utilize the supply engine at the dump site and to free other engines for deployment on the fireground and at the fill site, a means for transfering water from one reservoir to another was needed. The water siphon concept was utilized to move water from one reservoir to another. By using a charged 1 1/2-inch line, siphon flows of 90 gpm plus can be achieved.
Initially, this siphon was held in a hard sleeve between tanks by the use of the proverbial mainstay of the fire service, the rubber tie-down strap. Although effective, the straps would occasionally slip and interrupt the transfer of water. In addition to the delay necessary to restart the transfer operation, the loose line and siphon posed a hazard to personnel in the area when it became dislodged.
To overcome delays and avoid injuries to personnel, Fire Fighter Bob Snyder of the Friendship Fire Company developed a unique securing system for the siphon. Standard running board mounts for 4 1/2, 5, and 6-inch suction hose fittings are adapted to fit over the discharge tube of the siphon device and are held in place by a threaded coupling on the end. The device can be quickly adapted to any size suction sleeve by using the same size running board mount.
The photos illustrate the use of the device to transfer water between reservoirs at a rate of over 900 gpm. In addition to its designed use, the device may also be used to prime engines at draft, in dewatering operations and to increase vertical lift in drafting operations.
Although the concept behind the device is not new, the approach to its utilization is.
Cumberland County is immediately west of Harrisburg and 37 volunteer fire departments provide fire and rescue service for the county’s 175,000 residents.
