NEW CENTERVILLE/CROSSROADS WATER SYSTEM IMPROVES FIRE PROTECTION!

Now that the long awaited water line extension for the Centerville area in Faulkner County and the Crossroads area in Cleburne and Van Buren County is about to get underway, a few remaining questions still need some clarification. These are questions dealing with fire hydrants and improved fire protection for the area. To be specific..

According to Greg Smith, General Manager of Community Water System, the CWS policy has always been to work with any fire district in the CWS service area to obtain the fire hydrants they need. Since Centerville/Crossroads will soon be a part of our service area, they will certainly receive the same consideration. However, we must keep in mind that the primary purpose of this project is 'drinking water'…not 'fire protection'. The low interest loans and grants received from our major funding source, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, are designated for the development of a 'drinking water' system, not a 'fire protection' system. The smaller 'drinking water' line size is not large enough to provide the pressure and flow necessary for major fire protection. Over time, however, fire hydrants can be located on sections of the system where water line size is 4" or larger. These lines do offer enough flow and pressure to provide some assistance in most fire control situations.

Fire hydrant expense has two parts…installation and equipment. The hydrant installation process is handled by Community Water System at no cost to the district. All equipment purchases are the responsibility of the fire district involved. In some cases, equipment purchase grants are available to districts provided the district can offer matching funds. The installation service contributed by CWS more than qualifies for those required matching funds. In addition to hydrant installation services, CWS has also agreed to provide, at no cost, a fire hydrant located at the fire district's station. This hydrant will make it easier and faster to load the tanker trucks used to transport water to fires where hydrants are not available.

For several years now, the prospect of a safe, dependable water supply in the Centerville/Crossroads area has been a major topic of discussion. In most cases, residents considered this new water source primarily as a health benefit. Over time, the addition of fire hydrants will also make it a security benefit. Though the system's primary purpose is to deliver safe water for consumption, it still offers a certain degree of fire protection. As stated earlier, the system's capability to fight fires is determined by water line size, distance involved and the available water pressure. But even with some limitations, it is far better than no system at all. And, a functioning system of fire hydrants usually effects insurance rates in a very positive way.

If you have other questions about the Centerville/Crossroads Water Line, drop us a note or give us a call at:

Community Water System
299 Lakeshore Drive
Greers Ferry, AR 72067
800-234-2971