The Director of the Department of Search and Rescue Utumoe Alefosio has testified that in the past the fire division used to check on fire hydrants and water pressure regularly. However they are no longer able to do that under an ASPA policy that only utility personnel can conduct such checks.
ASPA’s Chief Operations Officer Ryan Tuatoo however says this was in the past. Moving forward ASPA will work together with DSAR to inspect and test water hydrants and ascertain that there’s ample water pressure for the hydrants.
He said when DSAR tests water hydrants without letting ASPA know it affects water pressure to homes. There are over 500 fire hydrants on Tutuila, he reported, and if DSAR was to test so many fire hydrants at the same time it causes low water pressure to homes. He added that ASPA suffers 60% water loss and its ASPA’s preference that DSAR is metered for the water used during fire hydrant testing.
Tuatoo said going forward DSAR must inform ASPA when it wants to conduct tests. Maintaining the hydrants will be DSAR’s responsibility.
Tuatoo reported that ASPA is installing fire hydrants in areas with new water lines are installed while removing hydrants in other areas.
The officials were testifying at a hearing of the Senate Public Safety Committee Wednesday concerning the spate of fires that have occurred in the territory since January.
Senator Magalei Logovii said regardless of a policy, a fire is an emergency and fire hydrants have to be tested to make sure thy are working. “If there’s no water, homes will burn to the ground,” he said. “Who’s to blame if there’s no water in a fire hydrant when there’s a fire?”
Senator Ponausuia, a former employee of ASPA said in the past ASPA was only responsible for the water supply while the Fire Division maintained fire hydrants. “If there’s low water pressure the Fire Division would inform ASPA”.
Senate President Tuaolo Manaia Fruean said since 1990 he’s never seen a fire hydrant near his home in Pago Pago being tested. He agreed with Ponausuia that the fire hydrants should be checked regularly.
Tuaolo asked Taulapapa William Sword, the Chief Engineer for the Water Division if he feels all homes should be required to have a water sprinkler to help combat fires.
Taulapapa‘s recommendation was that homes should have smoke detectors that would activate when there’s smoke. He said the national fire code only requires water sprinklers for warehouses and industrial premises.
Taulapapa agreed that fire hydrants should be checked regularly however he said ASPA’s non revenue water was quite substantial and the water used for the tests has to be metered.
Senator Gaoteote Palaie was adamant that someone should be responsible for ensuring that fire hydrants are functioning, instead he was hearing “the buck being passed around”.
Senators Magalei and Levu recommended that ASPA look into construction companies that are getting water from Frei hydrants for cement production, as a possible source for non revenue water. But it was explained that such companies have meters and there’s a $1,000 penalty for any company that gets water from fire hydrants without a meter.
The Chairman of the Public Safety Committee, Senator Olo Uluao Letuli has asked for a report detailing all fire hydrants on Tutuila and Manu’a and the last time that they were tested.
