Over time the art of water supply has become a discipline unto itself.
During an incident in which large quantities of water are required, typically structure fires, a secured water source is required from which tankers can shuttle water to the fire scene. In the Crestview subdivision, hydrants are available, but the rest of the district requires establishing a water supply at a natural body of water.
In either case, the method of water supply is to set a portable pond at the water source and one at the incident. Water is pumped from the source into the pond, from which the tanker comes and fills and transports to the incident, and then unloads at the incident pond. The attacking engines then draft water from the incident pond and flow it to the attacking hoses.
Although each of our Class A pumpers carry a portable pond, the primary water supply vehicle is our vacuum tanker, 321. It carries portable pumps and two portable ponds. When responding to a scene, it will stop at the water supply location and drop off a pump and a pond, then proceed to the fire. At the fire, it will unload the second pond and its initial load of water. Meanwhile, the water supply team is establishing a water supply from the natural source (or the hydrant) and filling the pond. Finally, the tanker establishes a shuttle cycle by moving water between the ponds.