Dear Editor:
Thank you, everyone, who contributed to the plan for testing local fire hydrants. It was a community effort that now seems headed in a good direction.
Homeowners asked fair questions of their property associations, the Fire District, and Pagosa Area Water & Sanitation District about the capacity of fire hydrants. When it became clear no comprehensive testing had been done in some time, elected officials got involved and called on representatives of the Fire District and PAWSD to explain the situation publicly.
PAWSD General Manager Justin Ramsey showed up to public meetings, as did some board members and PAWSD board candidate Carl Young. Mr. Ramsey should be acknowledged for taking the heat at those meetings and going back to PAWSD to work on solutions.
Thank you also to individuals and organizations who volunteered to help and to the neighbors who suggested PAWSD hire a qualified, experienced firm to do the testing. The risk to hydrants and PAWSD infrastructure is real, and it’s important to acknowledge the value of paying for expertise to offset risk.
Data properly collected by experts and made available for planning benefits us all. With transparency and continued public attention, the community will be positioned to respond more effectively when hydrants are needed.
Candace Jones
