With the federal government recently shutting off its water supply to San Benito County, it has raised concerns about rural homes' fire hydrants that have been pumped with the imported blue-valve allocation. But a local water official today said although the hydrants will be chained up, they can be used if there is a blaze.
The United States Bureau of Reclamation this month decided on a "zero" supply of federal water - which feeds into the San Luis Reservoir - due to drought conditions and concerns for an endangered fish. It is expected to force local farmers to irrigate only with well water, and some critics have predicted it will severely harm the agriculture industry and cost thousands of jobs throughout the state.
Even though the water will be inaccessible for agricultural use, San Benito County Water District Manager Jeff Cattaneo said firefighters would cut the locks and use it if there is fire.
"Nobody is going to be without fire protection services," he said and added that he has discussed the matter with CalFire Capt. Jim Dellamonica about this issue before the services were shut off.
"This isn't any inconvenience," Cattaneo said.
In the event of a fire at a county residence that has had its blue-valve water chained off, the county fire department has the authority to cut the locks and use the water. Cattaneo noted how the wells that are being chained off are usually off the road.
"These valves typically have a fire service that is remote from the San Felipe meter, not along the road," Cattaneo said. "They have been chained up as opposed to shutting off the underground valve."
One concern that Dellamonica raised was private hydrants that may not work. San Benito County fire is getting a list of these private hydrants. Dellamonica said the hydrants that are hooked up to the main water pipes still work.
Colin McConville Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.
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