In FY 2008, WASA is on pace to install over 1,000 hydrants. In FY 2007, DC WASA exceeded this goal by installing 803 hydrants. The plan called for approximately 600 hydrants to be installed each year. DC WASA crews will place out-of-service rings on these hydrants until water is restored.ĭC WASA launched an aggressive $26.5 million Fire Hydrant Upgrade Program in 2006 to replace nearly 3,000 public hydrants (approximately 35 percent of the District hydrants) over a five-year period. O Water main repairs DC WASA must shut off mains to make repairs, which in turn can eliminate water flow to a hydrant. O Inaccessible hydrants - Hydrants that cannot be accessed by firefighters are typically found at construction sites and roadway repairs where there is fencing or barriers that prevent the firefighter from hooking up to the hydrant (road or sidewalk reconstruction/repairs that interfere with a firefighters ability to operate the hydrants may also result in an out-of-service designation.) Unauthorized use includes landscaping companies illegally filling tanker trucks or children opening hydrants on hot days. Oĝamaged hydrants Fire hydrants can be damaged, for example, when struck by a vehicle, or from improper opening for authorized and unauthorized use. A hydrant is typically replaced within three weeks. O Obsolete hydrants - If DC WASA cannot repair the hydrant or the hydrant is a model that cannot be retrofitted to the national standard, then the hydrant is placed on the construction schedule for replacement. Typical reasons why a hydrant may be out-of-service include: The water distribution system is redundant so the firefighters almost always have other hydrants in the area available to them during an emergency and they can quickly eliminate those with out-of-service rings. This information is an important extra precaution for firefighters who frequently make quick decisions to protect property and lives. Out-of-service rings are placed on hydrants by both DC WASA and FEMS even though firefighters are provided regular updates on the condition of hydrants directly, the intent of the ring is to alert the firefighter once they are on the scene of an emergency. Ěn Out-of-Service ring identifies a particular hydrant as not being available for firefighting. Typical reasons why a Requires Maintenance ring is placed on a hydrant include a missing chain, a missing cap, or a leak that needs to be attended to at some point in time, but that does not render the hydrant unusable. Ě Requires Maintenance ring indicates a fully operational hydrant that is available for use during a fire. Status rings are another new communications tool. White designates the hydrant has the standard nozzle blue, red, green or orange identifies that the hydrant has the 4.5-inch nozzle and also indicates the flow rate the firefighter should expect from that hydrant. This standard enables engine companies from Virginia and Maryland to assist DC Fire and EMS during major emergencies in the District without the need for a special adapter. A hydrant with a colored horizontal band or tape indicates it is an upgraded hydrant that meets the national standard for 4.5 inch nozzles.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |