The District's Hydrant Inspection Program shall ensure that every hydrant in the district can be expected to perform properly and reliably whenever it may be needed in an emergency. We perform annual inspections not only for the purpose of complying with the standards, but we need to have a high degree of confidence that all hydrants will perform properly in an emergency. A number of circumstances can affect a hydrant's performance which includes vandalism, accidental damage, wear and tear, mechanical malfunction and even contractors performing work on water lines who forget to reopen hydrant tap valves. We want to detect any of these problems and correct them prior to the hydrant being needed. Checklists are provided.
Companies perform basic servicing and preventive maintenance.
Companies are supplied with basic materials such as spray paint, lubricant and hand tools. Having companies perform this work not only ensures a relatively high standard of quality and reliability, but the companies become familiar with some of the quirks and nuances of hydrant installations in the urban-wildland interface environment. The hydrant location actually witnessed in the field should match the address given on the checklist. The hydrant should also be plotted correctly on District maps. Occasionally new hydrants are not picked up by the Mapping Program.