Three questions about fire hydrants:?

Question

If one of the arms has its plug unscrewed and there is a hole there does this mean the hydrant is not connected to a water main?

Why would a hydrant in a residential neighborhood be disconnected? I assume that the houses in the neighborhood need fire protection just as much as they did when the hydrant was put in. And if the hydrant was an eyesore, why leave it there after it was disconnected from the water source?

Answer 1

There are two valves that control water flow to a fire hydrant. One is on top of the hydrant and the other is within a few feet and is generally used for maintenance purposes in case the hydrant needs to be removed. No water exits the hydrant until a valve is opened.

Answer 2

1.  No, someone just removed the cap

2.  It's not disconnected

3.  The hydrant is fine, and it is not going to be removed.

Answer 3

If the plug is off you still have to turn the top with a wrench to turn on the water, call your local fire dept and tell them they will have it checked out a non-working fire hydrant should always be covered with a black trash bag or removed so if there is a fire the FD doesn't waste their time trying to use it.

Answer 4

There is a ball valve located upstream of the hydrant used as an isolation valve and used in case a vehicle runs into the hydrant.That valve is off probably because the hydrant is leaking and can be easily turned on if needed.

Answer 5

On a dry-barrel hydrant (most common in Northern US, or anywhere that temperatures get to freezing level) all the caps can be off and / or there can be a hole in the barrel, and no water will flow unless the hydrant is turned on via the valve at the top.  Of course, if there's a hole in the barrel, this would most likely not be used in the event of a fire.  If the caps are off, a quick inspection for potential hazards would probably occur, but then it can be hooked up and used.

In warmer climates, where wet-barrel hydrants are the norm, to see one minus a steamer cap wouldn't automatically rule it out as useful, but a hole in the barrel would most likely be a water leak.  

When in doubt, call your local water utility (blue pages in the phone book, not 911 please) and report the hydrant.  They will send someone to check on it.

Generally, fire departments try to test and inspect their hydrants regularly, and some even paint, lubricate, and maintain them, as well as controlling growth around them.  In some areas, this is also handled by the water utility.  In others, it is shared by both.

If there is in fact a hole in the barrel, and it is a wet-barrel hydrant, it may have been isolated to stop/prevent a water leak from occuring.  Just because you don't see water flowing, though, doesn't mean the hydrant isn't in service.