Bernalillo County Fire Hydrant Testing & Maintenance PDF

**PURPOSE** This policy was developed to explain the roles and responsibilities of the various ranks and of the program manager, establish the time frame in which hydrants are to be checked, explain the training needed, documentation requirements, list needed equipment, explain the procedures to te...

**PURPOSE** This policy was developed to explain the roles and responsibilities of the various ranks and of the program manager, establish the time frame in which hydrants are to be checked, explain the training needed, documentation requirements, list needed equipment, explain the procedures to test the hydrants, and to explain how to mark, log, and report "out of service" hydrants. **POLICY** It is the policy of the Bernalillo County Fire Rescue (BCFR) to inspect and ensure hydrants in our response area are functioning properly and determine any issues with the hydrants so that they can be reported for repair or replacement. **PROCEDURE** I. **RESPONSIBILITIES** A. 1. 2. 3. B. A. 4. 5. 6. B. 7. 8. C. 9. 10. 11. a. 1. II. **TIME FRAME** A. B. C. III. **WATER SYSTEM INFORMATION AND DATA** A. IV. **TRAINING AND DOCUMENTATION:** A. The Program Manager will provide training to the captains for proper data entry of the hydrant program into the ARCGIS application. B. The Program Manager will obtain and distribute maps to the stations prior to the beginning of the inspection period. 1. 2. 3. C. All other documents for this program, excluding maps, can be found and printed as necessary from Target Solutions File Center BCFD Operations Hydrant Maintenance Program. These forms include: 1. Hydrant Work Order Sheet -- Only the "Non-ABCWUA Hydrant Repair Request" form should be used in hard copy form. ABCWUA hydrant repairs are done electronically inside ArcGIS Online. See section XII. REPAIR for details. a. D. Notice of Hazard 1. 2. V. **EQUIPMENT** D. - - - - - - 1. VI. **SAFETY:** A. B. 1. Work gloves 2. Duty boots 3. Eye protection 4. Traffic safety vest C. VII. **VISUAL CONFIRMATION & MAINTENANCE/INSPECTION PROCEDURE:** A. Each district will perform a visual confirmation of each hydrant assigned to their respective districts by using the ARC GIS application and hard copy maps provided ensuring the hydrants are accessible, visible, and placement is correctly shown on corresponding district/GIS maps. B. The crew will perform any maintenance needed around the hydrant i.e., clearing of debris and foliage in a 3 foot clear space around the circumference of the hydrant. C. External inspection: Check chains and make sure they allow the outlet caps to turn freely. Check all caps to make sure they can be removed. 1. 2. 3. a. Badge number of person doing the inspection. b. Notes as needed for issues with hydrant. c. Missing hydrant? d. Water flow problem? e. Stem nut problem? f. Cap frozen? g. Leaking? h. Will not drain? i. Loose hydrant? j. Damage to barrel? k. Brown water? l. Mapping Error? m. Horizontal Clearance? n. Needs paint? o. Needs chains? p. Turned wrong way? q. Needs Lower/Raised? r. Needs Attention? (Leave Note) VIII. A. Prior to any test, the hydrant shall be visually inspected and shaken to ensure it is physically secured to the water riser. - B. All ABCWUA hydrants shall be tested using supplied equipment. C. Hydrants that are NON-ABCWUA **[shall not]** be flushedunless written permission or requests are received from private water co-ops (NON-ABCWUA) prior to any maintenance/inspection or testing being completed by BCFR. Upon receiving permission, the hydrants shall be inspected and maintained as per the permission granted. D. **[Flow Operational Testing and Inspection (ABCWUA and Authorized Non-ABCWUA hydrants): ]** 2. 3. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. E. **[Inspection, Maintenance, and Barrel Pressurization Test (Non-ABCWUA] [hydrants):]** 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. IX. **IDENTIFYING AN "OUT OF SERVICE" HYDRANT** E. F. 4. A Red "Duct Tape" flag will be adhered to the hydrant operating nut and will identify the hydrant as out of service (refer to hydrant training for specifics or contact the program manager). X. **LOGGING** A. Upon completion of hydrant testing for the day: 1. XI. **REPAIR** G. H. I. 5. J. XII. **EMERGENCY REPAIR REQUESTS** K. 6. L. **REVIEW/REVISED** **[June 2023]** - Changed reference to the department to BCFR. - Minor grammatical and spelling corrections.