Hydrant And Water Supplies

Question 1

Why do firefighters use water?

Answer 1

1. Cheap
2. Effective
3. Readily available

Question 2

What are the two legislative bodies for hydrant supplies?

Answer 2

1. Water Industry Act 1991 (stating requirements for hydrant supplies)
2. Fire And Rescue Service Act 2004 (stating the requirement to maintain all hydrants)

Question 3

Where does our water come from?

Answer 3

1. River Intakes
2. Impounding Reservoirs
3. Underground sources (wells and boreholes)

Question 4

What are the three main reservoirs in Essex?

Answer 4

1. Hanningfield
2. Abberton
3. Ardleigh

Question 5

Name the three types of mains that make up our water distribution system.

Answer 5

1. Trunk mains (larger and brings in the water from the water source)
2. Secondary mains (brings water from trunk mains to different areas)
3. Service mains (smallest mains and brings water from secondary mains to houses etc)

Question 6

What are the factors affecting pressure and flow in a mains?

Answer 6

COLD
1. Condition of the mains internally (age, material)
2. Other demands in the mains (peak time)
3. Lengths of the mains
4. Diameter of the mains

Question 7

What are the 2 Hydrant types?

Answer 7

1. Sluice Valve
2. Screw down (most common)

Question 8

What are the standardisation of hydrants?

Answer 8

1. Must have 65mm thread outlet
2. Must be fitted with a false spindle
3. Direction of the opening must be permanently marked (on under side of cover)
4. Pit cover must be clearly marked with FH or Fire Hydrant
5. Must have a minimum capability to deliver 2000 lpm at 1.7 bar
6. Must be fitted with a frost valve

Question 9

Explain the safe operation of hydrants.

Answer 9

1. Open and close valves slowly to avoid water hammer
2. After use, make sure the valve is closed properly and frost valve is working
3. Valve of hydrant should not be opened if pit is flooded, unless standpipe is already fitted (to avoid contamination of mains)
4. Even if there is no water supply from a hydrant, valve should always be closed before removing the standpipe

Question 10

What does the hydrant indicator plate top number mean?

Answer 10

Diameter of the mains in mm

Question 11

What does the hydrant indicator plate bottom number mean?

Answer 11

Distance of hydrant from plate in meters

Question 12

What are the small numbers at very top of hydrant indicator plate?

Answer 12

Station number/ hydrant number

Question 13

Name the other water supply indicators.

Answer 13

EWS
Emergency Water Supply plate

Meter By-Pass to hydrant plate

Question 14

Where would you locate hydrant information?

Answer 14

1. MDT
2. Hydrant station book

Question 15

Name the ways in which you could locate a hydrant.

Answer 15

1. MDT
2. Hydrant station book
3. Hydrant indicator plates
4. Yellow curb
5. White H painted on road
6. Looking

Question 16

How would you report damaged hydrants?

Answer 16

All hydrant damage should be reported to Water Section at KP

Question 17

What are the implications of water hammer on mains?

Answer 17

Can crack the mains