Fire Department paid a site visit, we were told that we would have to have at least 150,000 gallons of water available in case of fire. We have an irrigation pond that holds plenty of water, but we didn't want fire trucks driving through our hazelnut orchard to refill. So, I showed the FD rep our much smaller overflow pond, next to the road, that we had excavated several years ago to hold runoff from our frequent Oregon rainstorms. He was doubtful that it was big enough but agreed to consider it if I could estimate sufficient volume. 

 

I already knew how deep it was (20 feet), so I used Google Earth measurements to estimate the length (64 feet) and width (27 feet). But, in the summer, there is evaporation that drops the pond level to as low as 15 feet. If I wanted to use the low reading as a minimum water storage unit, how can I use this information to calculate available water for use in case of fire if I know that a cubic foot of water is 7.48 gallons? If you use this question as one of your two replies, be sure to explain the math behind your answer. 

To calculate the amount of available water in the overflow pond at its minimum depth of 15 feet, you will use the volume formula for a rectangular prism (since the pond’s shape can be approximated as rectangular) and then convert that volume into gallons.

Here’s the step-by-step process:

### 1. **Calculate the Volume of the Pond at 15 Feet Depth:**
The volume of a rectangular prism (or box-like structure) is given by the formula:
\[
V = \text{length} \times \text{width} \times \text{depth}
\]
From the question:
- Length = 64 feet
- Width = 27 feet
- Depth (minimum) = 15 feet

Now, substitute these values into the formula:
\[
V = 64 \, \text{ft} \times 27 \, \text{ft} \times 15 \, \text{ft}
\]
\[
V = 25,920 \, \text{cubic feet}
\]

### 2. **Convert Cubic Feet to Gallons:**
We know that 1 cubic foot of water is equivalent to 7.48 gallons. To find out how many gallons this volume represents, multiply the total cubic feet by 7.48:
\[
\text{Gallons} = 25,920 \, \text{cubic feet} \times 7.48 \, \frac{\text{gallons}}{\text{cubic foot}}
\]
\[
\text{Gallons} = 193,881.6 \, \text{gallons}
\]

### 3. **Conclusion:**
At a depth of 15 feet, the overflow pond contains approximately **193,882 gallons** of water.

Since the Fire Department requires a minimum of 150,000 gallons, this pond, even at its lowest summer depth, holds **enough water** to meet the fire department's requirement.

---

Would you like more details on any specific part of the calculation, or do you have further questions?

### Related Questions:
1. How would the available water change if the pond depth dropped to 10 feet?
2. What factors affect evaporation rates, and how can they be minimized in ponds?
3. How accurate are Google Earth measurements for this type of estimation?
4. What shape approximations work best for irregularly shaped ponds?
5. How can I measure the pond more precisely to ensure compliance with fire regulations?

### Tip:
Installing a permanent water level gauge in your pond can help monitor water availability more accurately over time, which may be useful for both irrigation and fire safety purposes.

Fire Department paid a site visit, we were told that we would have to have at least 150,000 gallons of water available in case of fire. We have an irrigation pond that holds plenty of water, but we didn't want fire trucks driving through our hazelnut orchard to refill. So, I showed the FD rep our much smaller overflow pond, next to the road, that we had excavated several years ago to hold runoff from our frequent Oregon rainstorms. He was doubtful that it was big enough but agreed to consider it if I could estimate sufficient volume. I already knew how deep it was (20 feet), so I used Google Earth measurements to estimate the length (64 feet) and width (27 feet). But, in the summer, there is evaporation that drops the pond level to as low as 15 feet. If I wanted to use the low reading as a minimum water storage unit, how can I use this information to calculate available water for use in case of fire if I know that a cubic foot of water is 7.48 gallons?

Learn how to calculate the water volume of a pond to ensure fire safety requirements. This detailed example uses a rectangular pond's dimensions (64 feet long, 27 feet wide, and 15 feet deep) to determine that it holds approximately 193,882 gallons of water, meeting the fire department's minimum of 150,000 gallons. Suitable for high school students studying volume and unit conversion.

Math Problem Statement

Solution

Ask a new question for Free

By Image

Math Problem Analysis

Mathematical Concepts

Formulas

Theorems

Suitable Grade Level

Related Recommendation