Private fire hydrant annual maintenance checklist

Water authority or fire department told before the hydrant flows

Water purveyor or fire department notified as local rules require before flushing or flow testing, since flowing can drop pressure and discolor water nearby.

Monitoring company and owner notified before flowing

Monitoring company told a waterflow or supervisory signal may come in where the private main feeds monitored systems, and the owner told of the test window.

Impairment logged while the hydrant is out of service

Hydrant taken out under the owner's impairment procedure for the test, the areas it covers known, and a fire watch arranged where the procedure calls for one.

Discharge aimed away from traffic, people and property

Diffuser or hose set so the stream misses vehicles, pedestrians, buildings and landscaping, traffic coned off, and runoff going where the site's discharge rules allow.

Hydrant flushed until the water runs clear

Flow held until the discharge runs free of rust, sediment and debris, with anything that came through reported to the contractor.

Flow test witnessed and readings recorded

Contractor's flow test observed, static and residual pressures and flow noted for the record, not certified by the site.

Full opening and closing observed for binding or leaks

Hydrant opened fully and closed under the contractor's operation, no binding, no leak-by when shut, wrench torque not forced.

Isolation valve operated by the contractor and left open

Hydrant gate valve or post indicator valve walked through its travel without binding and left fully open, a post indicator relocked or its tamper restored.

Outlet threads and cap gaskets serviced

Threads cleaned and lubricated as the manufacturer directs, cap gaskets checked and renewed where cracked or missing, and the caps refitted snug.

Operating stems lubricated per the manufacturer

Stem lubrication points serviced on the manufacturer's schedule with the lubricant it names, the operating nut or each wet-barrel outlet stem turning smoothly after.

Main drain / barrel drainage confirmed after the test

On dry-barrel hydrants, the barrel seen draining down through its drain valve once the flow stops, drain rate noted, standing water flagged to the contractor.

Hydrant left ready for freezing weather

Where freezing weather follows, a barrel plugged for high groundwater or slow to drain pumped out and listed for winter pumping, caps snug and a snow marker fitted where snow drifts.

Flow results set against the prior test to catch a falling supply

Static, residual and flow figures compared with the prior test on file, and any drop raised with the owner for the water authority.

Test record updated and deficiencies logged

Readings written against each hydrant with the test date, any slow-drain, leak or low-flow issue raised captured with the follow-up.

Hydrant returned to service and the notified parties told

Hydrant closed, capped and drained, the impairment closed in the owner's log, and the monitoring company, fire department and water authority told testing is finished.