These fittings allow Fire and Emergency Services Agencies to access water as a response to an emergency incident for example a fire, chemical spill, etc.
Municipal or Street fire hydrants are valves installed on the reticulated main water supply system and maintained by the local Statutory Water Authority. These fittings allow Fire and Emergency Services Agencies to access water as a response to an emergency incident (e.g. fire, chemical spill, etc.). They also allow authorised contractors access to municipal water for commercial purposes under strict regulatory controls.
Municipal or Street fire hydrants, as they are also known, are typically located below ground, along the street on the verge/nature strip, although sometimes in the roadway proper and are marked by a C.I. Cover, often painted an identifying colour (e.g. yellow). Additionally, they are usually accompanied with an adjacent blue ‘cat’s eye’ reflector in the road indicating their position.
States have differing design requirements with most states on the east coast utilising a Spring or Swab type of hydrant, while W.A., S.A. and N.T. use individual variations of a Screwdown or Underground type hydrant.