WCOM NEWS

3-30-05

More fire hydrants, bigger pipes planned for Miramar

MIRAMAR--More fire hydrants are on the way to the city's east side as well as bigger pipes to increase water pressure and to comply with state and county regulatory agencies.
City commissioners recently approved paying $87,779 for engineering services for the hydrants and pipes, which will replace pipes installed by developers half a century ago.
The pipes were installed in the 1950s and 1960s and now "do not meet the minimum service criteria set forth by the state and county regulatory agencies and city's ordinance," city records show.
To remedy that, the city hired an engineering firm in 2001 to study the city's water distribution system.
"The study evaluated the existing water distribution system to determine its adequacy in serving current and future potable water and fire protection needs," said Hong Guo, assistant director of utilities. "Based upon this hydraulic study ... it was determined that additional fire hydrants are required."
The city had 120 new hydrants installed last year as part of this eastern fire hydrant and line improvement project.
Before more hydrants can be installed, however, pipeline upgrades are needed, Guo said.
So the city has hired Malcolm Pirnie Inc. to design about a mile and a half of water main and assemble bid information for the project, which could begin by the end of the year, said Assistant City Manager Vernon Hargray.
The project will involve replacing 4-inch pipes with new ones that are 6 inches in diameter, Hargray said. Once the work begins, residents and businesses should not experience a disruption in water flow, he said.
"The water system is like a grid; when you cut off one line, you can get water from another location," he said.
The installation will involve the south side of Miramar Parkway, between Southwest 64th and 68th avenues, city records show.
Most of the work will take place within swale areas and other rights of way, so traffic should not be too impacted, Hargray said.