§ 34-206. Potable water and fire protection.

(a)

The development of new facilities and mains and the expansion of existing water systems shall be designed by the engineer in accordance with all applicable state and local criteria.

(1)

Water systems designed for connection to or inclusion within the county water system shall be in accordance with the Manual of Standards and Specifications for Wastewater and Water Main Construction.

(2)

No construction plans for connection to the county system shall be approved until capacity has been obtained subject to ordinances and applicable agreements.

(b)

Where a central water system is required, the system shall be designed and constructed to satisfy the domestic potable, irrigation and fire flow requirements.

(1)

Fire hydrants shall be installed on water mains sized to provide the required fire flow.

(2)

Hydrant spacing:

a.

Fire hydrants located within single-family and duplex residential subdivisions shall be connected to water mains of six (6) inches minimum size. Connection to dead-end stubs may be acceptable, provided that the required fire flow can be achieved. In single-family and duplex residential subdivision, fire hydrants shall be spaced no further than one thousand (1,000) feet apart, measured along the roadway. No building intended for occupancy shall exceed five hundred (500) feet from the nearest hydrant. At subdivision entrances, hydrants shall be arranged so that fire trucks do not have to pass any building before reaching at least one (1) hydrant.

b.

Fire hydrants located in commercial, multifamily or industrial areas shall be spaced no further than five hundred (500) feet apart as measured along the roadway. Within individual parcels, additional private hydrants may be required.

c.

In construction areas and where development will not occur until later phases, water mains and hydrants shall be installed and in service prior to combustible materials being brought onto the construction site. Stabilized or paved fire access roadways are required.

(3)

General area fire flow criteria:

General Area Fire Flow
Requirements*

Land Use Type	Area Fire Flows (gallons/minute)	Residual Pressure (psi)
Single-family/ duplex-triplex	500	20
Multi-family	1,000	20
Commercial/ industrial	2,000	20

 

*;hg;(may be multiple hydrants—see article V, definitions)

In commercial and industrial/warehousing developments, the design fire flow shall be based on calculations for the largest buildings and/or most hazardous occupancies that are expected to be built.

(c)

Individual potable water supply systems may be permitted when the requirement for a central water system is waived under one (1) of the following conditions, subject to the approval of the Orange County Health Department and other regulatory agencies:

(1)

Subdivisions with lots forty-three thousand five hundred sixty (43,560) square feet (one (1) acre) in area or more.

(2)

Subdivisions with lots twenty-one thousand seven hundred eighty (21,780) square feet (one-half (½) acre) in area or more, if the subdivision contains fifty (50) lots or less, if such lots have a minimum dimension of one hundred (100) feet, and if satisfactory groundwater can be obtained and all distance and setbacks, soil conditions, water table elevations and other related requirements of F.A.C. chapter 17-22 are met. It is not the intent of this provision to allow sequential development of contiguous subdivisions under single ownership.

(d)

Rural fire protection. Multifamily, commercial and industrial/warehousing developments outside the urban service area, where no central water system is available, shall provide either an on-site stored water supply that complies with codes and standards or an alternate method of fire protection that is approved by the county fire official. When required by the county fire official, certain high-risk developments shall provide fire hydrants and other urban fire protection features.

(Ord. No. 94-4, § 1(Exh. A), 2-8-94; Ord. No. 2000-14, § 1, 6-27-00)