Why is my Fire Hydrant flowing water?

Why is my Fire Hydrant flowing water?

The City of Andover is provided potable & public safety water by the City of Wichita Water department & Butler County Water District #5.  Below are a couple of reasons that a Fire Hydrant might be flowing water…

  1. There are routine water system flush out operations that occur to maintain the health of the overall system ensuring proper water quality.
  2. There might be scheduled or emergency maintenance in the neighborhood or somewhere upstream in the delivery system and crews need to flush or drain the affected area.

In these situations, look up & down the block to see if there is a Fire truck or a water service truck working in the area.  If not, give us a call 316-733-1863 and we will investigate & follow up.  

Additionally, Andover Fire-Rescue (AFR) conducts annual fire hydrant service inspections. Each year we operate every one of the hydrants in our response area and pressure test approximately 40%. We do this for the reasons listed below.

  1. This is a requirement by the insurance companies and a national standard.
  2. We exercise the mechanical portions of the valve assembly, ensuring proper operation in an emergency.  We report hydrants in need of maintenance to proper authorities.
  3. We flush the water system, expelling potentially stagnant water.  This also eliminates any particles and sediment that may have collected in the system hydrant assemblies that could damage firefighting pumps and appliances, assuring a good source of firefighting water.
  4. We are able to obtain pressure & flow measurements in gallons per minute that allow us to calculate available firefighting water supplies.  This is an element used in the insurance industry, as well as fire pre-planning for residential and commercial developments.  This data is also shared with water system managers so they can evaluate the health of the system over time.
  5. AFR uses this time to meet certain training benchmarks for our staff.
  6. AFR also uses this time to enjoy time with our neighbors.  If you see us flushing & testing, feel free to chat with us. (Please be alert to the situation & surroundings. A water stream of 500-1000 gallons per minute can cause injury)

What can you do to increase safety for AFR staff and yourselves?

  1. Watch out for us in traffic!  One of the most dangerous things we do throughout our day is work in traffic.  Please watch out for us!
  2. Understand that the water flowing from a hydrant is coming out at tremendous force.
    1. Do not walk or drive through the direct stream.  It WILL damage your property or you!
  3. If you are coming over to say hi, please keep control of the children and do not let them into the water stream without approval from your firefighters.
  4. Watch for wet and slick areas created by the discharge of water.

If you see a hydrant flowing water for no apparent reason, leaking significantly, blocked by cars or landscaping,  or otherwise damaged PLEASE give us a call 316-733-1863 and we will look into the situation.

Show All Answers

1. Why does a fire truck come when you call for an ambulance?
2. Why does the Fire Department bring the fire engine just for a simple inspection?
3. Why do firefighters break out windows and cut holes in roof during a fire?
4. What are the Fire Department Hours?
5. Can I get my blood pressure checked?
6. Why do you block traffic lanes at auto accidents?
7. Why am I not supposed to drive over a firehose?
8. Why do I need to keep weeds and bushes away from fire hydrants on my property?
9. How do I schedule a Fire Drill?
10. What if I smell Gas in my home?
11. Why do firefighters work 24-hour shifts?
12. Why do we see fire department crews at the store?
13. What other responsibilities do firefighters have other than fighting fires?
14. What should I do when I see or hear an emergency vehicle coming towards me when I'm driving?
15. My smoke detector is chirping, what does that mean?
16. How often should I change the batteries in my smoke detectors?
17. Does the Fire Department fill fire extinguishers?
18. How often should I replace my smoke detectors?
19. Can I have recreational fire in my backyard?
20. How much do I have to pay if a Fire Truck responds to a fire at my property?
21. Why is my Fire Hydrant flowing water?
22. Does the Fire Department fill swimming pools?