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- High Volume Pump deployment in flooding
Angela Smith MP
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (May 2006 - June 2007)- View Angela Smith 's profile
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High Volume Pump deployment in flooding
| Date of statement | 26 June 2007 |
|---|---|
| Type | Oral |
Statement by Angel Smith MP, Minister for the Fire and Rescue Service, on 26 June 2007.
The High Volume Pumps, funded by Communities and Local Government through the £200 million New Dimension Programme, can provide water for firefighting and remove flood water, with 3 times the capacity of conventional Fire Service pumps. 46 sets are strategically positioned within Fire and Rescue Services through out the country. They can be called upon to work within the host county or at regional and national incidents.
During this present emergency 27 High Volume Pumps are presently in use in a variety of situations. Foremost is their role in preventing an escalation of the situation by pumping out water to prevent further damage.
The map shows the deployment of 27 HVPs as at 10:00hrs Tuesday 26 June 2007.
Fire Minister Angela Smith said:
"My condolences go to the families of those who have lost loved ones in the recent flooding tragedies. However, I would like to pay tribute to the Fire and Rescue Services and other agencies who are working tirelessly in very difficult conditions."
Each HVP is capable of moving huge volumes of water - up to 7,000 litres of water per minute. An Olympic size swimming pool could be emptied by a pair of HVPs in 3 hours compared to just over 9 hours with standard fire and rescue service pumps. A road tanker containing 28000 litres (roughly 6,200 gallons) could be emptied by a single HVP in 4 minutes. Each HVP set comes in 2 parts, each of which weighs ten tonnes - or the same as eight family cars.
The current situation at the Ulley Dam is a prime example of this preventative strategy. They have also been used in city centres and other areas in a similar manner.
