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City of Seattle
Gregory J. Nickels, Mayor
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NEWS ADVISORY
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| SUBJECT: Mayor Nickels Rolls Out New Water Supply Safety Measures
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
9/15/2005 10:00:00 AM |
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Alex Fryer (206) 684-8358
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Mayor Nickels Rolls Out New Water Supply Safety Measures
New programs will provide dependable sources of water for fire-fighting and drinking
SEATTLE-Continuing his effort to make Seattle the most prepared city in America,
Mayor Greg Nickels unveiled today three new programs aimed at ensuring the
city will have plenty of water available for fire-fighting and household use
in the event of a disaster.
“As we saw in New Orleans, dependable sources of water-for drinking,
firefighting and sanitation-are one of the keys to a community’s safety
and quick recovery from catastrophic events,” Nickels said. “These
new public safety programs bring us closer to making Seattle the most prepared
city in America.”
Under development for many months, the new programs include:
- An Emergency Water Supply Program that will enable the Fire Department
to access water for fire-fighting in the event that Seattle’s regular
water supply is damaged by an earthquake or other disaster.
- An Emergency Drinking Water Provisioning System to deliver potable
water to Seattle’s neighborhoods-fast-in the event the regular water
system is compromised.
- A Portable Pipeline System that can be rapidly deployed if part of
the city’s normal water distribution system should fail.
Nickels emphasized that-in spite of the new water supply measures-Seattle
residents are urged to keep on hand at least three days’ worth of water-one
gallon per person, per day-for their own use. “It’s important for
each of us to make sure we are personally prepared to take care of ourselves
immediately following a major disaster,” the mayor said.
The new Emergency Water Supply Project, funded by the city’s $167 million
2003 Fire Facility and Emergency Response Levy Program, has three elements:
first, hydrants will be installed at nine reservoirs and water storage tanks
to provide easier access to water supplies and allow water to be drawn from
a reservoir without contamination. Second, pumping points and drafting equipment
for fire engines will be established for drawing water directly from Elliott
Bay and selected lakes. Third, large diameter hose will be stockpiled in geographically
strategic areas to increase firefighters' range when using water from reservoirs,
lakes, or saltwater.
The Emergency Drinking Water Provisioning System is part of Seattle Public
Utilities’ (SPU) multi-pronged response to water contamination or disruption
of the city’s water supply. The System has been under development for
about 18 months under a $250,000 grant from the federal Department of Homeland
Security. The system will have the ability to deliver up to 612,000 gallons
of water a day to six central locations around Seattle, in close proximity
to Seattle Department of Parks and Recreation’s six main community centers.
Water for the system will be delivered to portable manifolds through city
fire hydrants, water tanks, reservoirs, stand pipes or 3,500-gallon rubber
water pillows, or “blivets.” The water will then be pumped into
individual six-quart bags. In addition to the manifold system, the city has
contracted with bottling companies to deliver bottled water to communities
during a water emergency. These contracts can provide an additional 16-thousand
gallons of water daily.
The new SPU Portable Pipeline System was purchased two months ago under a
$400,000 Department of Homeland Security grant. The new Pipeline is designed
for use following a failure of water pipeline systems (the kind of damage that
might be sustained in an earthquake). It is a system of flex pipe on hose reels,
mounted on a tag-along trailer, which can be deployed quickly-down steep ravines,
through bogs or under bodies of water-in 660-foot sections of pipe. The city
has been granted an additional $200,000 for the development of fixed point
valves and fittings for direct connection of the portable pipeline to the existing
water distribution system.
For more information on the Fire Facility and Emergency Response Levy Program,
visit the levy program web site at http://www.cityofseattle.net/fleetsfacilities/firelevy/default.htm
Visit the mayor’s web site at http://www.seattle.gov/mayor. Get the
mayor’s inside view on initiatives to promote transportation, public
safety, economic opportunity and healthy communities by signing up for The
Nickels Newsletter at www.seattle.gov/mayor/newsletter_signup.htm
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Office of the Mayor
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