In the city, water is as close as the nearest street corner. For rural residents, the nearest water source is often a pond or lake. Central Electric’s dry fire hydrant program is making water supplies more accessible. Nearly 75 dry fire hydrants have been installed in Central’s service territory since the program began in 1993.
Dry hydrants are the non-pressurized equivalent of fire hydrants found in the city. Unlike fire hydrants, dry hydrants are permanently installed in a pond or lake and use their water to fight fires. The pond or lake chosen must have sufficient water reserve year round. The minimum water output required to fight a fire is 250 gallons per minute for two hours or 30,000 gallons.
Each dry hydrant can serve up to a three-mile radius. They are connected to pipes that are sunk several feet underwater, far below the frost line so they will not freeze in the winter and can be accessed even if there is ice cover. The pipes are also self-draining, so water does not freeze inside.
We buy dry fire hydrant kits annually for installation within the service territory through a cooperative program with the Penn Soil Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council. Penn Soil RC&D administers the hydrant kit distribution and installation with area fire companies, township volunteers and landowners. Installation costs average between $500 and $1,000 for the pipe, fittings and installation.
For more information contact Penn Soil RC&D at 814-226-8160 ext. 5.
