Permit: Fire Hydrant Use
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Fire Hydrant Use
Title: Fire Hydrant Use
Policy: All persons desiring to use a fire hydrant for construction, demolition, dust control or for any other purpose shall obtain a permit from the DCWASA.
Background: Section 106, Water and Sanitation, Title 21, District of Columbia Municipal Regulations (DCMR) contains the regulations for permits for the use of water from fire hydrants. The majority, if not, all fire hydrant use permits are issued by the DCWASA representative at the DCRA office at 941 N Capitol Street. The fee for using a fire hydrant for construction, demolition, dust control or other similar purpose is $55 per day for each fire hydrant. The permit application, if approved, is issued as the permit and must be kept on site at all times when the fire hydrant is being used. Approved users of fire hydrants are responsible for any damage they may cause to the fire hydrant, for disconnection of all hoses from the fire hydrant when it is not in use, for obtaining permission from the Department of Public Works (DPW) for laying hose in public space and for providing an approved back flow preventer like a check valve if there is any possibility of potential contamination of the water supply. The use of fire hydrants, particularly long-term use, should be discouraged and alternate water sources should be suggested. For example, in a building construction installing the permanent water service connection at the start of the project and using it instead of a fire hydrant is the preferred option. Another example is using a water truck instead of a fire hydrant for dust control in roadway construction.

  1. When an application for a Fire Hydrant Use Permit is received by the representative at the Permit Center it is reviewed for completeness, the proposed use of the fire hydrant and the duration of the use.
  2. If the request is for a long-term use and there are alternate water sources, the DPS rejects the application and suggests alternate water sources.
    If the application is complete and is for short-term use, the DPS shall approve the application and issue the permit to the applicant upon collection of the fee for each date indicated on the permit. The actual date for each day requested must be noted on the application.

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