Where does the water in fire hydrants come from?

Question

I was wondering where the water in the fire hydrants come from, how they hook new ones up and how many are required within a certain distance? Anyone know?

Answer 1

It's regular old treated water main water, though some localities will sometimes use separate nonpotable water sources for them (lake or irrigation ditches).

Basically there have to be enough hydrants that any dwelling or commerical building is within 100 yards of one in the city, though in rural places I have seen this number as high as 1500 feet.

Answer 2

At what distance, I don't know, but the Fire Department, or city/county planners office should. The hydrants get their water from the same water mains that your drinking water comes from. As far as a new hydrant is concerned, they either turn off the water when ready to connect a new one, do the installation and turn the water back on, or they can do what is known as a "hot tap". A hot tap is where they have dug down to the main water line, as they would anyway, connected the base for the new hydrant to the main, and with a plug in place to keep the water from shooting out once the pipe has been penetrated, a hole is drilled into the pipe. Once they are through, the drill bit is pulled out through the valve and the valve is closed once the bit is clear of the valve seat. The rest of the hydrant is put in place, and the control mechanism to open the valve used in the hot tap is connected to the top of the hydrant. Generally, they just turn off the water and make the connection. Some people go without water for a few hours when this is done.

Answer 3

Fire hydrants are usually part of the general water distribution system operated by the municipality, county or sometimes a private utility company. Their placement is regulated by the various ordinances in effect at the location. Municipal codes are usually different than rural codes because of the density of structures. Some counties have poor regulations and the sizing of water lines and the consideration of even placing hydrants is often left to the discretion of the commercial site developers.
To make the home sites look better to potential buyers some community developers have connected hydrants to distribution lines much too small to provide a suitable flow for fire fighting. Home owners need to know that just because there is a hydrant present, that is no guarantee it will actually deliver enough water to fight a fire.
Hydrants have two sizes of connections, a 4" and two 2 1/2"
The 2 1/2" hose lines and nozzles are rated for 250 GPM each. These are the ones usually connected. Sometimes the 4" is hooked to the pumper truck.
A good fire department will run annual tests on its hydrants and rate them according to the test flow within a prescribed pressure range. Hydrants will often be color coded on the bonnet according to the flow rating.
Fire departments have pumpers and tankers. When there is a rural fire, the tanker may be the only source of water unless there is a pond or pool nearby, it is accessibile and the department has attained prior permission to use it.
We have used tanker shuttles from a remote working hydrant to the fire site and the distance has been a few miles.
Insurance companies will regulate the insurance rates for a district depending on the availability of hydrants and on the ability of the fire department to demonstrate its capabuilities.
It is better to have tees already in strategic place for the future addition of hydrants as a community grows. When a hydrant is to be added to line it must be shut down or or large enough, a "hot tap" can be made as already described.
With the strategic placement of water towers and hillside mounted storage tanks the needed extra water supply for fire emergencies is improved. The normal draw- down of the tanks also rlieves the need for additional pumping facilities for a while.
Hydrants to be added must be paid for by someone. When we saw the need for a hydrant in our rural system and the underground line was known to be adequate, we solicited the neighborhood, matched the funds from the Community Chest and had the water utlity install them at a discount. We installed almost 30 hydrants this way , demonstrated the tanker shuttle and had the ISO (insurance) rating dropped from a 7 to a 4.
We also solicited the County Commission had had some decent criteria for emergency water supply added to the building codes for site development.
We were a vounteer rural fire department in Tennessee. We had mutual assistence agrements with our nighboring fire departments.
I have told you more than you asked to show that something can be done if it is not right.

Answer 4

No... Your water isn't risky. in case you do not activate any style of water faucet ever so oftentimes, rust can strengthen... it fairly is why fireplace departments deliver their autos out ever so oftentimes to instruct on fireplace hydrants. The rusty water does not be solid for the water pump structures on the fireplace autos... on account which you utilize the water faucets on your place extra oftentimes than fireplace hydrants the rusty water isn't likely to return out once you turn on your water grant... If rusty water does look, run your water faucets for quite a couple of minutes... If this does not artwork, do not drink the water and look for suggestion out of your close by water corporation...