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Low water pressure worries firefighters
In New Port Richey, fire officials say some hydrants in two gulffront neighborhoods might pose safety problems.
By PHIL DAVIS
Published October 14, 2005
NEW PORT RICHEY - Residents in the waterfront communities around Gulf Harbors have long complained of low water pressure that squelches everything from showers to lawn sprinklers.
Now city firefighters fear there might not be enough water pressure to fight a fire in the area.
City tests last month in the Sea Forest Beach Club and Gulf Harbors Villas developments found four hydrants with inadequate water pressure and one hydrant that wasn't working at all, New Port Richey Fire Chief Dan Azzariti said.
His firefighters could handle a blaze, he said, but it would push their water tanks to the limit.
"We'd be fighting the fire with a lower amount of water than we need," Azzariti said. "I am concerned that as they continue to build in the area, the situation is not going to get any better. It's at the bare minimum and just below the bare minimum at this point."
Azzariti sent Lindrick owner Joe Borda a certified letter on Sept. 21 demanding increased water pressure by Oct. 21. Lindrick Service Corp. is a private water utility in southwest Pasco County. The tested hydrants' pressure ranged from 28 pounds per square inch to 18 pounds per square inch, which is slightly below the state-mandated minimum of 20 pounds per square inch for safe drinking water.
City officials say the New Port Richey water system can consistently deliver more than twice as much pressure to firefighters battling a blaze.
Most of Gulf Harbors is served by the Pasco County Fire Department. The New Port Richey Fire Department checked hydrants in a small area currently under construction. Only a few people currently live in the test area.
Azzariti said water pressure can vary but that firefighters can't be sure the Lindrick system will deliver when needed.
Borda could not be reached Thursday for comment. In the past, he has blamed aging infrastructure in the gulffront community and customer overwatering for water pressure problems.
Azzariti said Borda responded to his letter but didn't answer his questions: "At this point, there has really been no progress."
[Last modified October 14, 2005, 01:40:20]
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