Firewater Storage, Treatment, Recycling and Management: New Perspectives Based on Experiences from the United Kingdom

Abstract

Smart firewater management and recycling helps reduce water use and protect the environment from pollution. However, contamination of recycled water may pose a health risk to fire fighters. This review assesses international literature to identify best practices, and to recommend new technologies and methods on firewater management and recycling. The literature assessment indicates that this is a new research area where insufficient findings have been published in Web of Science-referenced journals. Therefore, informally published materials (a.k.a. grey literature) were also assessed. Findings indicate the need for practical decision support tools to estimate consumption rates, predict "bottlenecks" and bund capacity, assess water quality and determine pump requirements. This article recommends that cost-efficient and rapid on-site treatment methods, such as compact and mobile filtration units for firewater recycling should be researched in the future. The filters should be based on compartments with different media. The empty pore space should decrease from inflow to outflow. A light plastic media should be positioned near the inflow to retain large particles, such as a grid. Activated carbon media could be placed near the outlet to remove fine suspended solids and dissolved contaminants. This should address concerns by fire fighters dealing with contaminated water, spray and foam.

Identification Methodology for Chemical Warehouses Dealing with Flammable Substances Capable of Causing Firewater Pollution

“…The authors experienced a similar situation concerning the Hungarian research situation as well. The same conclusion was reached by Scholz, M. in his review article dealing with the management of the storage, treatment and recycling of firewater [35]. In his opinion, the scientific investigation of firewater management problems still awaits.…”

Rapid on-site identification of hazardous organic compounds at fire scenes using person-portable gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS)–part 2: water sampling and analysis

“…It is imperative that the detection and identification of these hazardous organics is determined during an active fire to assist first responders in community protection strategies and to minimize the release of contaminated run-off into waterways. This may include the use of bonding or absorbent materials to prevent the toxicants or contaminated water being released into the environment [18].…”

Design, analysis and fabrication of firewater storage tank

“…Based on firewater tank, some of the literature reviews are as follows. Scholz [1] has studied firewater storage, treatment, recycling and management. They reviewed firewater management and recycling of firewater in order to reduce water use.…”