General Hydrant Information

A fire hydrant is connected to the water main that runs below the street or sidewalk. To use the hydrant for firefighting, the nozzle cap is removed, a hose is attached to the nozzle and the operating stem on top of the hydrant is turned.

Hydrants come in a variety of shapes and colors. Fire flow is not determined by the attractiveness or color of the hydrant, nor does a missing cap or slight defect render it inoperable.

Why Hydrants Need Maintenance

Just as you would maintain your car with a regularly scheduled oil change or tune up, even though it still operates perfectly well, DC WASA maintains the public fire hydrants in the District. DC WASA makes necessary repairs and performs routine maintenance identified in the joint biannual inspections with FEMS.

Typical reasons why a fully operational hydrant may need maintenance include:

  • Lubrication around the nozzle
  • A missing chain (needed only to keep the cap with the hydrant)
  • A missing cap
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Fire Hydrant Upgrade Program

DC WASA launched an aggressive $26.5 million Fire Hydrant Upgrade Program in 2006 to replace nearly 3,000 public hydrants (approximately 35 percent of the District hydrants) over a five-year period on behalf of the District government. The plan called for approximately 600 hydrants to be installed each year. Through fiscal year 2008, DC WASA completed over 2,500 public hydrant replacements and upgrades. An additional $30 million has been earmarked by DC WASA for the replacement/upgrade of 4,000 additional hydrants.

As part of this program, DC WASA and FEMS agreed to standardize hydrants and adopt the national standard for 4.5-inch nozzles. In addition, the new fire hydrants are breakaway hydrants, so that if struck by a vehicle, the hydrant breaks at a point above ground without damaging the water main underground. This can keep a tremendous amount of water from flooding streets, damaging property or causing injury.