A fire hydrant is a valuable tool, used by many people on a daily basis. Firefighters, of course, find these to be imperative, but they are also used by street cleaners and other emergency response teams. However, one thing many people do not realize is the maintenance and effort that goes into keeping a hydrant working as it should—the life cycle of the fire hydrant if you will. Take a look at these steps and you will better understand what keeps fire hydrants working when they need to be.
The decision to Install – The community decides that a fire hydrant is needed in a certain location. This may be a matter for the public works department, or it could be something that goes to vote at a city council meeting. Quite often, the fire department will make the original request for the hydrant. The final decision will come later, after all of the parties who are involved in the decision gather together to determine if it is a good idea or not.
- Installation – Installation of a fire hydrant may take some time. First, the area must be surveyed to determine the best location. There must be easy access to the water supply, of course, but it is also important that there be no conflict with power lines and other underground issues. The hydrant will need to be installed in a location where it can be conveniently accessed by all who need to use it.
- Maintenance and Use – For the life of the fire hydrant, constant vigilance is essential. Yearly inspection is a great way to ensure that the hydrant remains in good working order and that it is ready to serve the community when necessary. However, some hydrants may not require inspection as often. During the working years of the hydrant’s life, it is important that it be opened and regularly used, to ensure that the water supply is clean and fresh when the community needs it. Some areas have implemented “adopt a hydrant” programs which allow community members to dig out the hydrant during a snowstorm and report any problems to the proper authorities.
- The decision to Replace – When the hydrant begins showing its age, the authorities (be it public works department, city council or another group) will determine the right time to replace or remove the hydrant. The community will frequently decide to do this in a way to spread out the cost and effort—not replacing all of the hydrants in an area all at once, for instance.
- Demolition – If another hydrant is being installed, it may be possible to remove the old hydrant and install another in the same spot. This is especially true if the styles are similar. However, sometimes the town has reason to want to move or remove a hydrant. In this case, the water supply must be closed, and the trench where the hydrant was located must be filled. By removing and repairing the ground, it is possible to return the area to a pre-hydrant state.
Every fire hydrant is different, but they are built to last. In many cases, you will find a fire hydrant is designed to serve the community for 20 or more years—this is made possible when the hydrant is well maintained and is not damaged by outside sources (such as being struck by a vehicle or vandalism). Since the fire hydrant is such a valuable tool for the community, it is up to the community as a whole to report any damage and take care not to cause problems with the hydrant. By taking care of hydrants, a source of water will be available to all who need it—when they need it.
Photo credit: mrpolyonymous / Source / CC BY
Photo credit: docpop / Source / CC BY-SA
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