Hydrant Testing

Study Notes

Purpose: To outline the roles and responsibilities of personnel involved in hydrant inspections and repairs, establish inspection timelines, explain training and documentation requirements, list necessary equipment, detail testing procedures, and explain procedures for marking, logging, and reporting "out of service" hydrants.
Policy: BCFR inspects and ensures hydrants in its response area are functional to determine any issues, enabling reporting for repairs or replacement.

Program Manager: Provides training to captains on data entry for the hydrant program in the ARCGIS application, obtains and distributes maps to stations, ensures all documentation (excluding maps) is accessible from the Target Solutions File Center BCFD Operations Hydrant Maintenance Program.
Captains: Responsible for hydrant inspection and maintenance within their assigned districts, ensuring all hydrants are accessible, visible, and accurately represented on district/GIS maps.
Firefighters: Perform maintenance around hydrants, including clearing debris and foliage.

Training on the hydrant program and ARCGIS application is provided to captains.
Maps for each district are distributed prior to the start of the inspection period.
Required documents are accessible from the Target Solutions File Center BCFD Operations Hydrant Maintenance Program.

For Visual Confirmation and Maintenance/Inspection: Work gloves, duty boots, eye protection, traffic safety vest.
For Testing (ABCWUA Hydrants Only): Specific equipment is supplied for testing ABCWUA hydrants.

Visual Confirmation: Districts use ARCGIS application and hard copy maps to visually confirm hydrants are accessible, visible, and accurately located.
Maintenance: Cleaning debris and foliage within a 3-foot radius of the hydrant.
External Inspection: Checking chains, ensuring they allow the outlet caps to turn freely and that all caps can be removed.
Testing Procedures:
- ABCWUA Hydrants: Tested using supplied equipment.
- Non-ABCWUA Hydrants (Non-Centralized Water System): Pre-inspection visual check to ensure hydrant is secure. Permission from water co-op is required before flushing. Inspection and maintenance are performed per permission granted.
- Flow Operational Testing and Inspection (ABCWUA and Authorized Non-ABCWUA Hydrants):
  - Opening the hydrant to ensure the water pressure is sufficient.
  - Checking the flow stream, noting its direction and whether the water is clear or discolored.
  - Testing the stem operation to ensure it operates smoothly.
  - Inspecting for damage, leaks, or any other issues.
  - Closing the hydrant and noting the time it takes for the water to drain.
- Inspection, Maintenance, and Barrel Pressurization Test (Non-ABCWUA Hydrants):
  - Visually inspecting for damage, leaks, or deficiencies.
  - Removing the lid for visual inspection and checking the gasket condition.
  - Cleaning any debris found.
  - Checking the water riser connection.
  - Replacing the lid.

A red “Duct Tape” flag is adhered to the hydrant operating nut to signify an out of service hydrant.

ABCWUA Hydrant Repairs: Done through an electronic system within ArcGIS Online.
Non-ABCWUA Hydrant Repair Requests: Completed in writing using a "Non-ABCWUA Hydrant Repair Request" form.