1. Water Shuttle Operations
Sugar Land Fire Department
Driver/Operator—Pumper Academy
Spring 2003

2. Water shuttle operations, sometimes referred to as tender shuttle or tanker shuttle operations, are used to supply water to emergency scenes that are so remote from the water supply source that relay pumping is not practical. Water shuttles involve a process in which tenders (tankers) deliver their load of water to the emergency scene, travel to a filing site, reload with water, and then return to the emergency scene to dump again. During the course of a major emergency or large fire, each tender may make as many as a dozen or more round trips.

3. Pumpers
Minimum of two used in shuttle: one at fill site and one at dump site.
Must have a minimum pump capacity of 1,000gpm to conform to NFPA 1901

4. Tenders/Tankers
Must have tank-to-pump line capable of supplying the pump 500 gpm until at least 80% of the tank is empty
Must be equipped with at least one external connection to allow filling at the rate of 1,000 gpm
Must have a discharge capable of discharging 90% of the tank volume at an average rate of 1,000gpm
May empty the tank with a gravity or a jet-assisted dump

5. Gravity v.s. Jet-Assisted
Relies on nature’s gravitational pull to empty water from the tank
Usually employ 8” or larger piping with a valve that extends to the exterior of the apparatus
Gravity dump valve may open manually from discharge location or remotely from cab
Jet-assisted Dump (jet dump)
Uses small diameter in-line discharge inserted into piping of large tank discharge
Discharge is supplied by apparatus fire pump
In-line discharge creates a venturi effect that increases water flow through the large tank discharge

6. Gravity v.s. Jet-Assisted

7. Disadvantage of Jet-assisted
The apparatus must have a fire pump
The pump must be engaged before dumping water
Water can be discharged if the pump is not operating, but at a lower rate than it would in a gravity dump.
The apparatus purchase cost is increased

8. Setting up a Water Shuttle
Location of the dump site
Location of the fill site

13. Positioning Fill Site Apparatus
If possible, use a pumper to fill tenders, regardless of whether a hydrant or static water supply is used.
Fill tenders at a rate of 1,000 gpm
Use LDH on the hydrant steamer connection.
If necessary, use multiple MDH in addition to the LDH if the hydrant is on a strong main.
When positioning for drafting, seek a spot that requires a minimum amount of lift or hard intake hose.

14. Positioning Fill Site Apparatus
If the static water supply is inaccessible and portable pumps are used, locate them no further than 100 feet from the pumper
Regardless of whether a hydrant or static water source is used, ensure that a small discharge line continuously flows from the fill site pumper.

15. The Fill Site
Determine where the tender driver/operator should park on arrival
Mark where the tender should stop with a traffic cone opposite the driver/operator’s side door window.
Make sure that each hoseline used should have a gate valve.
Lay out hose according to the tender’s fill valves.
Install a gate valve between the last and second to last sections of each hoseline
Install Stortz adapters on hoses as necessary
Assign a radio-equipped firefighter to supervise the manifold if used.

16. Fill Methods
Fixed or portable overhead pipes at the static water source
Permanent or portable manifolds

17. Operating & Shutting Down
Keep the fill site pumper in gear with tender fill lines charged at all times.
Continuously flow a waste line from fill site pumper to prevent loss of prime or pump overheating
Assign make–and-break personnel: one firefighter to handle each laid out tender fill line, make fill connection when tender arrives, and disconnect hose when tank is full.
Ensure that tender drivers remain in their apparatus cabs

18. Operating & Shutting Down
Monitor the ground conditions and adjust fill site location if site becomes too soft because of spilled water.
Once the incident commander orders the shuttle shut down, make sure all tenders are full before releasing them, unless the site is supplied by a static water source.
Release apparatus based farthest from the scene first
Once all tenders have been refilled and/or released, shut down the fill site pumper and prepare it for return to service.
If water came from a static source, flush all pumps and equipment before storing.

21. Tender Discharge Methods
Using a pump on the tender
Using a dump valve
Simultaneous pumping and dumping

22. Portable Tank Operations
Single Portable Tank Operations
Multiple Portable Tank Operations
Shutting Down the Dump Site