Fire Hydrant Maintenance
Posted on: 17 February 2023
Fire hydrants are located within city limits. Hydrants are connected to the main water source that a city has access to. If you purchase property that features a fire hydrant, familiarize yourself with some maintenance requirements that you or the city's employees may be responsible for.
Public Hydrants
Public hydrants are accessed by a local fire department. Public hydrants contain an outlet valve and a nozzle cap. The use of a hydrant allows a fire crew to put out fires quickly. A public hydrant is painted a bright color. The color of a hydrant reflects the water flow rating that the hydrant possesses.
A fire crew is trained to connect their hose equipment to public hydrants. A fire crew or a city worker will be responsible for testing the operational capabilities of a fire hydrant. This testing process may be conducted on an annual basis. During the testing of a hydrant, water will be released into a roadway or other out-of-the-way space.
Maintenance
City ordinances will indicate who is responsible for maintaining a fire hydrant. Snow, ice, and overgrown debris could hinder a fire crew's attempt to access a hydrant. When you purchase your property, you may be provided with some instructions about hydrant maintenance that will specify who is responsible for the upkeep of the hydrant.
If you will be living on the land where a hydrant is located, it is in your best interest to keep the property around the hydrant well-groomed. Shoveling around the hydrant or cutting the grass that surrounds the hydrant will ensure that the local fire department members can access the fire hydrant if they need to.
If the hydrant remains clearly visible from the roadway, a fire crew can quickly spot the hydrant and get to work on hooking up their hose equipment during an emergency situation.
Laws
Parking in front of a fire hydrant could prevent a fire crew from connecting their hose to the hydrant in an emergency. Most jurisdictions forbid motorists from parking in front of a hydrant. If a vehicle owner parks in front of a hydrant or next to one, they are putting themselves at risk of being fined or towed.
Always park your vehicle in your driveway or on another part of your property that is not located near the hydrant. If you ever take notice of a vehicle that is parked near the hydrant, contact a local authority to report this.
For more info, contact a local company.
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