Fire and Irrigation
System Considerations
The evolving International Residential Code in the US requires homes to provide for fire suppression. In a local subdivision if development is dense, there are hydrants in the street. In rural areas households usully include a water tank that includes a reserve to fight a fire.
The fire suppression infrastructure will be considered a part of the water system. It will be installed at the same time as the water system infrastructure.
Fire Station Land
A two acre parcel of land will be reserved just off NM State Road 112 at approximately mile marker 40.5 in the event a fire station is needed in the area in the future. That would require much of the residential land in the area to develop which seems unlikely.
Community Water & Shared Wells
The water system will be designed to meet the supply required by the International Residential Code for a residence. Sprinklers are becoming standard, and they will be incorporated where practical or required.
- COMMUNITY WATER: In some neighborhoods where there is a community water system regulated by the NM State regulation, the water delivery system will have the capacity built in to fight a fire at the site of the home improvements.
- SHARED WELL CLUSTER: If there is a shared well that usually requires a reserve for fire, fire equipment hookups, and other measures to meet International Residential Code for fire.
The Sprinkler Tradeoff
The International Residential Code is adopting the use of sprinklers. When sprinklers are present insurance rates are lower, fire is dealt with more immediately, and the cost for maintaining a larger reserve and distribution system drops.
In this respect there is a tradeoff in costs if you compare sprinklers to a system that needs a bigger reserve and more infrastructure to support the demand for fire suppression.
Considering Irrigation
Household
Household related yard irrigation is considered part of the calculation when computing household use. So any irrigation related to homes is accounted for within the household use requirements. You can review the Household Use page for more details.
Water for Agriculture
There are no water rights associated with the Ranch property. There is no open field irrigation or irrigation ditches. Any demand for water for agriculture will result from green houses, livestock, forest garden irrigation, or similar uses. Practicing other surface water techniques allows the rain to be used more beneficially.
