Joshua City Council approves ordinance lowering fire-flow requirement to 1,000 gpm

The Joshua City Council on Monday approved an ordinance amending the city's fire-flow requirement, reducing the minimum from 1,500 gallons per minute to 1,000 gpm.

Council members said the change is intended to align the city's standard with what is commonly available and to avoid imposing significant, up-front infrastructure costs on small developments. "This allows us to get in line with what really is available out there to us without having to increase significant cost to developers and other folks," a staff presenter said.

Council members and staff said the ordinance sets a new minimum but does not remove local public-safety discretion. The council and fire officials said the change includes a retained ability for the fire chief to require higher flow for specific structures, including industrial or hazardous facilities. "Of course, this still gives the fire chief some authority for special businesses, special operations ... where he can specifically demand more for that type of structure," the presenter said.

Members described scenarios where lowering the minimum could reduce developer costs. The council referenced an example in which a developer faced an estimated $1,000,000 cost to upgrade water lines over a quarter-mile to serve three houses; officials said alternative measures such as installing sprinklers could allow development with lower municipal water-flow standards.

Councilmember Johnny moved to approve the ordinance; Councilmember Dakota seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously.

The ordinance change is a minimum standard; areas using the lower figure will be marked so responding crews know when tanker support may be dispatched, a council member said. The city did not specify an effective date in the meeting record.