Hydrants

Because of the climate in Peterborough, dry-barrel hydrants must be used over wet barrel hydrants. Dry-barrel hydrants have the shutoff valve located at the bottom of the barrel and are operated by a long shaft extending down from the operating nut on the top of the hydrant. Dry-barrel hydrants also have a small drain hole at the bottom that allows water to drain from the barrel when the hydrant is shut off. This will drain the barrel of the hydrant after use to prevent freezing. In areas of high water table, the drain hole is plugged and the hydrant must be manually pumped out after each use. There are over 2,000 hydrants in Peterborough.

Hydrant locations should be selected carefully. They should be readily visible and located near a paved surface where they will be accessible to fire-fighting equipment. They should also be placed where they are protected from damage by vehicles and are least liable to be covered by plowed snow. In Peterborough, hydrants are generally placed 300 mm from the property line on the same side of the street as the water main.

Hydrant needs repair?

Hydrant Maintenance

Bright paint protects hydrants from rusting and makes them easy for the fire department to find. Well-maintained hydrants also project a positive public image of the water system. In Peterborough, hydrants are painted every four years and the colour of the hydrants bonnet and caps represents its flow capacity. Blue represents the highest available flow, green and orange represent moderate flow and red represents the lowest flow. This is a requirement from the Ontario Fire Code.

Additionally each year, typically in the fall hydrants are checked for operations prior to the winter months.