How Does a Dry Hydrant Work?

by Kochek | Jun 28, 2016 | News, Products

A dry hydrant is installed in nearby, developed water supplies in areas where water is not readily accessible. These areas may be rural or just disconnected from an established water system.

In these areas, dry hydrants can provide a simple, effective solution to fire fighting needs. Dry hydrants utilize a non-pressurized pipe system and are permanently installed in a rural area, connected to existing lakes, ponds, streams, and cisterns. They are relatively cost-effective and require little maintenance, outside of standard hydrant testing.

But how do these non-pressurized hydrants work?

A dry hydrant is readily identifiable by a permanently installed pipe that is positioned next to a viable water source. The other end of the pipe is connected to the bottom of that water source, as well as a strainer—which keep debris from clogging the pipe.

When water is needed, firefighters utilize an adapter to pump water from the lake by vacuuming the air out of the dry crank with a fire engine’s pump. The lower pressure this action creates in the pump intake forces water into the part of the hydrant that is above water, and finally into the pumper.

The way a dry hydrant works is very simple, once you know the purpose of all of the parts the hydrant has. As long as an individual knows that the hydrant is primarily two parts (a curved pipe and a strainer), the information is easier to understand. With the help of a pumper, dry hydrants bring water to areas that do not have access to standard hydrants.