Unfortunately, Fire-Rescue is not able to remove fire apparatus from service to fill swimming pools. There are many reasons, which prevent the use of Fire Apparatus for this purpose.
- Colleton County’s Water Tender Fleet is primarily used for firefighting efforts. Fire-Rescue covers an immense service area comprising 1132 square miles. Fire Department Tenders are spaced approximately every 8 to 10 miles throughout the County standing ready to respond to fire related emergencies. It is difficult to justify removing Tenders from service for non-emergency use.
- Due to the lack of a public water system in most areas of the County, the only way to transport the water is in tender trucks. These units weigh in excess of 23 tons, and generally cause damage when driven across or parked in a residential yard and/or driveway.
- Due to health reasons, the water in the Fire-Rescue Water Tenders is not potable (drinkable). Firefighters utilize several firefighting additives such as light water or foam, which contaminates the water, making it unsuitable for consumption. This foam also causes a large froth on the surface of the water, which is undesirable for most pool owners. The foam cannot be filtered out and increases if the water is agitated.
- The plumbing on most tenders is constructed of metal pipes. The piping with age tends to rust. This does not affect the ability to fight fires, but leaves rust and residue in any container, in this case a swimming pool. Again an undesirable byproduct for pool owners.
- Finally, many of the tenders in the Fire-Rescue have a sealant, coating the interior walls of the water tank. This coating has several health risks associated with its composition making the water stored in the tank unsuitable for use in a swimming pool.
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