When devastating wildfires swept through Pacific Palisades, Marco Terruzzin and his family faced the heartbreaking loss of their newly acquired home, which was engulfed in flames just a month after they moved in. As they followed the news of the destruction, Terruzzin, an Italian engineer and chief commercial officer at Energy Vault, was struck by reports of firefighters struggling to access water due to hydrants that lost pressure and ran dry during the critical moments of the blaze.
This experience sparked an innovative idea in Terruzzin’s mind, inspired by a water-storage technology his company has implemented in Italy. The system, known as Water Trees, consists of inflatable tanks designed to store large quantities of water for emergency use, particularly during wildfires. Each tank stands 39 feet tall and can hold approximately 148,000 gallons of water, providing a substantial resource that could help combat raging fires.
Terruzzin believes that California should strategically install these pop-up reservoirs, particularly in high-risk fire areas, to ensure that firefighters have a reliable water supply at their disposal. The Water Trees could be positioned near fire hydrants or along the borders of neighborhoods adjacent to wildlands, creating a protective barrier that would help extinguish flames and prevent the spread of embers.
The concept is still in the prototype stage, with plans to demonstrate the technology to California fire agencies. Once operational, the tanks would be filled using existing municipal water systems and kept isolated from the drinking water supply for emergencies. In the event of a fire, water would flow from the tanks by gravity, maintaining pressure for nearby hydrants for hours and allowing firefighters to respond more effectively.
Terruzzin estimates that deploying over 4,000 Water Trees in the Los Angeles area could be achieved at a cost of about $80,000 each, which is considerably lower than traditional water storage solutions. He envisions that if implemented, these systems could significantly enhance fire preparedness and response capabilities in the region.
Experts have expressed cautious optimism about the potential of Water Trees, noting the need for a decentralized approach to water storage in fire-prone areas. They emphasize that while the technology shows promise, challenges such as regulatory compliance and public acceptance must be addressed. Some residents may be hesitant to accept large, balloon-like structures in their neighborhoods, raising questions about aesthetics and practicality.
Despite these concerns, Terruzzin is determined to advocate for this solution, arguing that without new infrastructure to provide water where it is needed most, California will continue to face the threat of increasingly frequent and destructive wildfires. The recent fires in Pacific Palisades have underscored the limitations of current water systems, which were not designed to handle the demands of large-scale firefighting.
As state officials investigate the water supply failures that hindered firefighting efforts during the recent blaze, the Water Trees concept could become a key part of the ongoing discussion about improving California’s resilience to wildfires. With climate change exacerbating fire risks, innovative solutions like Terruzzin’s may be crucial in protecting communities and preserving lives in the face of future disasters.