Temporary / Hydrant Permit
In some instances, you may need a temporary source of water for a variety of uses. A non-permanent service connection requires a temporary/hydrant permit.
There are two types of permits available: metered and estimated. Metered permits are only issued for long-term usage . All other permits are estimated by Cleveland Water. Please note: Customers in suburban communities must also supply a copy of the approval letter from the fire chief of that suburb to use the hydrants.
Potential acceptable uses for a temporary/hydrant permit include:
- Construction
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Opening Your Swimming Pool
There is no greater time as a pool owner than opening it for the first time. The main task at hand is, of course, to fill it with water. There are three water sources that you can choose to fill your new swimming pool:
- A fire hydrant
- Your home water
- A professional water hauler
If you live in a community that allows you to fill your pool from the fire hydrant, this is an efficient option. The City of Cleveland does offer this benefit to residents, but, there are some hoops to jump through. You must obtain a permit and inform your local fire department. Also, you will need to have your own hose, valve, and wrench to operate the hydrant.
The remaining two options are probably a more viable route to take. There are many factors to consider when deciding whether to use a bulk water supplier or your own water. We recommend reading the pros and cons of each outlined in our article, Filling Your Pool: Hose vs. Hauler.
Once you have made your decision, seek the approval of a swimming pool professional near you.
Does The Department Fill Up Pools
Yes, if you live in the Jacksonville City limits and your pool is an in-ground pool. If you would like to request to have your in-ground pool filled by Jacksonville Fire & Emergency Services, please contact Utility Billing 910-938-5248 to arrange for payment of water used . Once payment has been received, Water Billing contacts the Department and someone from Jacksonville Fire & Emergency Services will in turn contact you to schedule a mutually convenient time to fill up the pool.
Jacksonville Fire & Emergency Services does not fill vinyl-lined pools as we cannot guarantee the pressure from the hose will not rip your pool liner.
If you have a vinyl-lined pool, contact Utility Billing and provide information on the approximate size of the pool and the date you filled the pool they will in turn provide an adjustment to the sewer portion of your water bill.
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Pool Water Delivery Service
Believe it or not, theres a pool water service delivery. It might vary depending on your location, but some companies bring water to your doorstep, like ordering online.
Some companies even offer pre-chlorinated water that can save time in testing and balancing the pH level of the water. In some cities with water shortages, this might be your best option.
It also comes with some cons to it, it can get pretty expensive, and the cost can vary depending on the size of the pool. But this is a much faster method than the two mentioned above. A standard pool can be filled within just a couple of hours.
It Would Use Up Their Precious Time
Even when firefighters arent out on emergency calls, they are incredibly busy. They have little time to sit around and accept menial jobs because there is always paperwork, safety checks, educational outreach and other duties to perform.
If they went to fill up your swimming pool they would risk falling behind in these other areas which are far more important.
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Helping People Filling Their Pool May Set An Unfavorable Precedent:
Consider that they will create a precedent if they make an exception and assist you in filling your pool. They wont be able to refuse others requests for the fire stations assistance in filling their pools from now on.
If they continue to engage in this behavior, it may reflect poorly on them in the public consciousness, as this is not their prominent position in society.
City Water From A Fire Hydrant
As garden hose will take a while to fill the whole swimming pool, people are considering asking their local fire department to fill them using the fire hydrant.
It varies remarkably, as a different state has different laws or policies they abide. Some city offers it for free, but in some other places, they require some payment for the cost of the water, it can serve as the rent for the hose or access fee.
A fire hydrant can fill the swimming pool by 1,500 GPM, and it is not recommended to use full pressure as it might damage the pool itself.
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How Long Will It Take To Fill My New Above Ground Pool
Fill time will depend on your water pressure and how long you keep the water hose in your pool each day. The installers will have a small fill pool that will be filling with water while they install the pool. They will pump that water into your pool before they leave . This will give enough water to hold up the walls of the pool-it is the customer’s responsibility to continue filling the pool.
Video Answer: Incredible Fire 5 Houses Burned
- The coverage that applies to your pool typically depends on what kind of pool you own. An above-ground pool is generally covered by the personal property coverage in a homeowners policy, while an in-ground pool is usually covered by other structures coverage.
- In rural areas where homes are not served by municipal water supplies, swimming pools may need to be filled with water drawn from drilled wells. This is not a problem, generally, and most maintenance tasks are largely the same whether your pool is filled with city water or well water.
- We had water trucked in to fill our pool, accepting it as part of the overall setup and construction expense. We use the well water to refill as needed. The hydrogen sulfide is neutralized by the chlorine in the pool so there is no smell.
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The Use Of Such Valuable Equipment For Filling Pools Will Be Hard To Justify
New fire trucks having built-in ladders, water tanks, and other specialized equipment can be as expensive as $1 million. Of course, the expense can vary depending on various factors, but the vital thing to note is that the fire trucks sure dont come cheap!
Hence it is hard to justify using such valuable and expensive equipment, facilities, and gears for filling up swimming pools.
This justification is one of the prominent reasons they avoid these services. But, in hindsight, this doesnt look like a good use of the publics money.
Use A Garden Hose And A Tap
It might sound too simple to be plausible, but actually, filling your pool using a regular garden hose and tap is a perfectly legitimate course of action.
The benefits of doing it this way are that you do not need to rely on anyone else, or pay for a workhand, and the use of public water is cheap and easy.
The downside to using a tap and hose is that it is very slow. In fact, it can take up to 2 days to fill a big pool by using a tap alone, and in some hot and drought-prone areas you can incur extra charges for your excessive water use.
It is therefore a good idea to contact your local municipality or water authority before you begin filling your pool, to let them know what you are doing. They may be able to supply you with greater water pressure temporarily, to speed up the process.
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# Why Should You Avoid Using A Fire Hydrant
Turning on a fire hydrant is risky because a tremendous amount of water will rush towards it if the fire hydrant is opened.
Also, if youre found using a hydrant might be prosecuted with theft of services, he says. He suggests filling your pool with a yard hose or having someone transport water for you.
Attack Fire Truck Or Brush Trucks
Aside from the slow, massive water tenders, firefighters also use brush or attack trucks. These vehicles are more agile and versatile when searching for water sources, but they dont have the same capacity as large pumps.
It requires massive staffing to conduct a smooth operation, and several attack trucks to create a flow capacity of 1,000 gallons per minute.
Someone needs to be skilled in coordinating every brush truck deployed at the scene to make it work. Still, its a highly effective method of supporting fire-ground operations, especially in areas where there is a lack of water sources.
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It Could Negatively Impact Their Public Image
Firefighters have a revered role in our society. They are respected by the general public for their bravery, selflessness and efficiency.
Maintaining their good reputation and living up to the publics high expectations is vitally important for the continued success of any fire department, especially because they rely on people listening to and obeying them during emergency situations.
Therefore, if they began filling up swimming pools, public opinion may start to waver, and people might consider them to be a waste of money and resources. This could not only impact their funding, but also their ability to perform their job effectively.
Will Firefighters Fill Up Your Pool Expert Answer
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Owning a pool is awesome until you realize just how long it can take to fill one up. Then youre going to start looking for people with high pressure hoses and lots of water like the fire department. But is it OK to ask your fire department to fill your pool?
Firefighters can fill up your pool, but they rarely will. Most fire departments dont have the time to do so. If you contact your local fire department about this be prepared for them to say no or to charge a reasonable fee for doing so, this fee will typically be given to charity.
Not only will we tackle the question of whether firefighters will fill up your pool but we also look at whether you can use a fire hydrant to fill up your pool and whether firefighters have a right to take water from your pool in an emergency.
Your # 1 priority is keeping your family safe. As a firefighter, I recommend everyone has updated smoke detectors that dont require battery changes, like these ones from Kidde, a fire extinguisher, like this one from Amerex, and a fire escape ladder if you have bedrooms above the first floor, I recommend this one from Hausse.
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Will The Firefighters Fill Up Your Pool
Although the fire service has the equipment and many resources to fill your pool quickly, unfortunately, they rarely do so to avoid legal ramifications and liabilities. Their time is precious and would be better spent helping others as well as saving lives.
Firehouse is one of the most important and busiest places in the city. The firefighters are rarely found lounging around doing nothing. As a result, its more probable that theyll devote their limited time to keeping people safe rather than filling pools.
How To Fill An Above Ground Pool
If youre ready to fill your above ground swimming pool, Im going to assume youve already taken care of everything else.
Its set up where you want it and the necessary plumbing is installed or you have someone scheduled to install it.
But the big question is, How do you fill it up? Where does all that water come from?
Right?
Not to worry. You have a few options. You just have to find the one that works best for you in the area where you live.
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When Do You Need To Fill Or Refill A Pool
There are some severe water quality issues that can only be addressed by completely draining and cleaning a pool. However, for most homeowners, depending on their water quality and maintenance habits, a pool should be drained, cleaned, and refilled approximately every 2-3 years.
All pools do need the occasional top-up, because the water level lowers due to splash-out, evaporation, backwashing, and other factors. Most pool owners need to top-up pool levels in summer every week or two.
If your pool water levels are needing to be topped up more frequently, you may have a leak, or follow these tips below to help conserve water.
Can I Use A Fire Hydrant To Fill My Pool
In terms of the question as it stands, yes, you could technically use a fire hydrant to fill a pool. Thats because technically it is possible to use a fire hydrant to pump large volumes of water quickly into a swimming pool.
Its a bad question though because the right question should be, Is it OK to use a fire hydrant to fill my pool? and the answer to that question is categorically, No. Its not OK. In fact, its an absolutely terrible idea and it could end up causing you an injury or worse.
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City Water And A Garden Hose
Finding water near you might be easier than you thought, you can always connect your garden hose to an outdoor tap to fill your pool. The costing will be a massive spike in your water bill as for the standard household.
They use for12,000 gallons of water per month. And the city you lived in will also charge for additional sewer fees. When filling water from a garden hose, it can take up to 48 hours to fill a standard pool size.
Choosing City Or Municipal Water
Have you ever considered using municipal water to fill your pool or hot tub? If you have a septic tank in your home, you may save big and only be charged for the water fill and not municipal sewage fees. Make sure to dial in to your local city number or water company to find out if thats the case for you.
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Some Helpful Tips For Filling Your Pool
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Filter your water. If you use any method to fill your pool that involves a garden hose, its a good idea to use a garden hose filter. These are inexpensive little attachments that simply screw on to the end of your hose and filter out all kinds of contaminants. Trust me, it will save you tons of trouble when youre trying to balance the water.
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Keep an eye on the pool liner while youre filling it. Its not uncommon for the liner to slip or wrinkle in places while it sits there waiting to be filled. And if it does, youll have a heck of a time straightening it out once a few thousand gallons of water are on top of it.
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. Remember, just using the water available to you isnt always the best choice. You might find that water delivery in your area is a few hundred bucks cheaper than using city water.
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Shock your pool soon after its filled. You may find the water doesnt need too much adjusting if you use city water, a filter, or a delivery service that treats it themselves. But in most cases, youll need to add some chemicals. Shocking your pool is the best way to sort of start it from ground zero and then add what it needs to get it balanced.
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Install all the railing and fittings before you start filling. The railing around the top will help keep the liner in place. Its also much easier to do before theres heavy water pulling down the liner and getting in the way.
What Does Pool Water Delivery Service Mean
Having pool water delivered to your home by truck is a great way to get clean and balanced water into your pool quickly. These trucks can do much more and provide clean water for many different situations. These include but are not limited to:
- Commercial areas
We’ll look at the benefits and drawbacks of each kind of service.
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For Avoiding The Hassle Over Water Quality & Safety
Firefighters obtain the water to perform their duties from public open water resources.
These resources include ponds, lakes, rivers, etc. The water quality is not a factor for extinguishing a fire, but it is when filling up swimming pools.
Moreover, it is hard to know how often the water tank and the water pipes of the fire truck are being cleaned or sanitized. Hence the hygiene and quality of the water stored in the water tank are of significant concern.
Do Fire Stations Fill Pools
Cost: Varies tremendously. In some places, a fire department will do it for free, as an exercise to flush the line. In other places, they will do it for the cost of water, or perhaps you need to rent the hoses or pay an access fee. In some cities, you cant do it at all and can get arrested for trying.
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