Riverside residents witnessed a proud step forward in water conservation and public safety, as the Riverside Fire Department unveiled a new PumpPod device that will save millions of gallons of water each year while preserving the intensity and realism of firefighter training.
City leaders and regional water partners gathered on, Tuesday, Feb. 3, as Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson and Fire Chief Steve McKinster introduced the PumpPod alongside representatives from Riverside Public Utilities, Western Municipal Water District, and the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The moment marked the result of months of collaboration focused on protecting one of the region’s most valuable resources, while strengthening emergency preparedness.
“We are improving our water efficiency in a way that doesn’t readily spring to mind, like with a low-flow toilet or a drip irrigation system for your landscaping,” Lock Dawson said. “Yet millions of gallons of water will be saved with the PumpPod in a way that improves on firefighter training.”
The PumpPod operates as a closed-loop system that captures and recirculates water used during training exercises, allowing firefighters to train with full-flow equipment without waste. The system is expected to conserve between 3.5 and 4.5 million gallons of water annually.
Fire Chief McKinster emphasized the dual impact of the project, noting both its environmental and operational benefits. “This PumpPod is a great example of what both collaboration and ingenuity look like. Professionals from their respective fields, coming together to create meaningful change for the greater good of our community and our natural resources,” McKinster said. “The PumpPod allows our firefighters to participate in high-stress, real world training, while continuously circulating approximately 2,000 gallons of water, saving thousands of gallons of water during each training evolution.”
The unveiling also highlighted Riverside’s leadership within the Inland Empire, setting an example for other communities looking to balance sustainability with public safety needs.
“As the first Inland Empire utility to introduce a PumpPod, we’re proud to have created a roadmap that other agencies can follow,” said Robin Glenney, Assistant General Manager of Water for RPU. “This project, combined with the suite of other indoor and outdoor water conservation measures that RPU provides to our customers, will help us save over 9 million gallons of water each year, while improving how RFD conducts its training operations.”
Funding for the PumpPod reflected the same spirit of partnership that brought the project to life, combining a state Department of Water Resources grant awarded to Metropolitan Water District with contributions from the Riverside Fire Department, Riverside Public Utilities and Western Water.
“At Western Water, serving as both a retail and wholesale provider means we work across communities to support local agencies while also strengthening regional water reliability through collaboration and smart investments,” said Laura Roughton, Board President for Western Water. “This project reflects a true partnership by bringing together local leadership, regional wholesale support, and state grant funding to deliver.”
With the PumpPod now in place, Riverside residents can take pride in a solution that safeguards water, supports firefighters, and demonstrates how innovation and cooperation can deliver lasting benefits for the entire community.
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