The City of Española is considering whether to hire an outside contractor to complete inspections of the city’s approximately 500 fire hydrants.
Hydrostatic pressure testing is part of a larger process that is supposed to occur every eight years to determine city safety.
A company called Insurance Services Office requires the inspections to confirm or adjust the city’s insurance rating. A better rating could mean reduced rates for city commercial buildings.
Inspecting city fire hydrants has previously fallen to the fire department. Department of Public Safety officials are concerned that using firefighters may be inefficient and costly.
Department of Public Safety Director Eric Garcia says he’s researching three costs.
The first is how much it will cost to certify firefighters to do the testing. Garcia says the city’s firefighters may or may not already be qualified depending on which certifications ISO requires and how they match up with the certifications city firefighters already have.
If the department is qualified and well-equipped, the second cost Garcia needs to consider is overtime, he said.
Lastly, he’ll need to find contractors who can do the work and get their estimates.
Another concern with the ISO rating process is the Santa Claran Hotel and Casino. The building’s size means it will need a higher water flow from its hydrants in case of a fire.
ISO has already ruled that despite the hotel and casino being on tribal land, it’s still the city’s responsibility to ensure its safety.