Across North America it is customary for water purveyors to charge varying “system development fees” when homes are hooked up to municipal water supplies. The standard fees are often increased dramatically, however, when a homeowner opts to install a residential fire sprinkler system. The added charge for sprinklers unfairly penalizes homeowners for their decision to enhance the safety of their home.

The hook-up fees are typically based on expected water use. A home’s water supply is generally provided through a 3⁄4-inch line. For a residential sprinkler system, the water line is typically a 1-inch pipe. Water suppliers often interpret the increased pipe size as an indication of the amount of water that could potentially be used by the sprinkler system. In response, the purveyor charges as much as three times the normal hook-up fee.

In Oregon, Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue (TVFR) is undertaking a unique effort to educate water suppliers within the fire district so they understand a sprinkler system actually uses less water to fight a fire than the fire department will use if it has to respond to that same fire. TVFR Chief Jeffrey Johnson said the unfair fee practice is analogous to some passengers paying for part of the cab when they take a cab ride, instead of just paying cab fare.

His fire district is a strong advocate of fire sprinkler protection. The $3000-$4000 additional (water supply) fee in his region is “a real barrier” for homeowners, said Chief Johnson. Concerned that the increased fees serve as a disincentive to homeowners, TVFR is reaching out to the water suppliers to ensure that a homeowner who chooses fire sprinkler protection will not have to pay more for the hook-up fees. “We work with every water purveyor in our service area to waive the extra fee so long as it is for fire sprinklers,” said Chief Johnson.

The TVFR approach to working with water purveyors is a progressive technique that should be replicated elsewhere, said former Mesa, Arizona fire chief Dennis Compton, who now serves as a national fire and life safety consultant. “Like it or not, economics play an important role,” he said. “Any time a fire department can intercede when there is an unjust financial barrier and advocate directly on behalf of the homeowner, it aides the process. Ultimately, Chief Johnson’s plan and others like it benefit the entire community.”