After about four years of planning and budgeting, the Celista Fire Department has a new “dry hydrant” that will allow firefighters to pump lake water all year round.
This is a first for the North Shuswap and the hydrant will serve as a certified access to water as required by the Insurance Underwriters of Canada.
The Columbia Shuswap Regional District’s manager of operations management, Darcy Mooney, explains that a dry hydrant has a waterline that goes from the hydrant into the lake, making it possible for the fire tenders to hook up and pump directly from the lake – in all seasons, including winter.
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The drilling and pipe installation on Nov. 14 was the first step, with site approach, valve fittings and firefighter training next in line, reads a Facebook post.
Members of the Celista Fire Department expressed their gratitude to the CSRD’s team leader of protective services, Derek Sutherland, and assistant fire chief Sean Coubrough for their determination to see this project developed.
Mooney offers thanks of his own.
“CSRD worked with the Little Shuswap Lake Indian Band to get the construction underway,” he says. “They were instrumental in allowing the project to go ahead this fall and we wanted an opportunity over the winter to have a supply of water.”
@SalmonArm
barb.brouwer@saobserver.net
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