by Kate Shunney
Morgan County Commissioners approved a resolution to seek a FEMA Hazard Mitigation grant to add six dry hydrants in the county for future use by volunteer fire companies.
On March 4, commissioners okayed the next step in the process to secure $300,000 to develop the hydrants in Berkeley Springs, Great Cacapon and Paw Paw. The county approved a $75,000 match if they receive the federal grant.
Dry hydrants are pipe systems installed at ponds, lakes or streams that allow fire departments to draw water to fill tankers or other firefighting apparatus. They’re used where there is no public water infrastructure available to deliver a supply of water.
photo by RJ Scofield
Morgan County has a number of dry hydrants, with the highest concentration in the South Morgan area due to a grant and hydrant design program developed there decades ago.
Commissioner Bill Clark said the need for more hydrants came up at a Morgan County Planning Commission meeting, as a concern about a lack of access to water in western Morgan County.
Clark said the presence of rivers in Paw Paw and Great Cacapon isn’t enough, as fire trucks and apparatus need an easily-accessed, year-round location where they can reach water safely.
David Deamer, Project Manager for the Eastern Panhandle Regional Planning and Development Council, spoke about the grant at a March 4 public hearing. He said the overall plan is to develop dry hydrants on Rockford Road, Route 9 and in Magnolia.
“Those locations came from the fire companies,” Deamer said.
He and Clark said the county would work with property owners in those areas to seek permission to place the hydrant piping and keep access open to fire companies.
Rebecca MacLeod, who attended the public hearing, explained that dry hydrants can only have so much lift to be usable for fire trucks. She noted that a pond needs to have a capacity of 30,000 gallons of water. She had worked on the previous development of dry hydrants in the county.
“The important thing is that fire departments have to do regular maintenance on them,” said MacLeod. The hydrants have screens to keep debris and leaves out of fire department hoses and the pipes have to be flushed regularly.
Having dry hydrants around the county can speed up fire response and save lengthy tanker trips for volunteer fire companies.
Commissioner Sean Forney also noted that dry hydrants can help lower homeowners insurance rates in certain areas.
Commissioners were unanimous in their support of the grant application.
