HD8 - Dry Hydrant Plan for the Commonwealth of Virginia

  • Published: 1993
  • Author: Department of Forestry
  • Enabling Authority: House Joint Resolution 197 (Regular Session, 1992)

Executive Summary:
A dry hydrant is a relatively low-cost, non-pressurized pipe system installed in existing lakes, ponds or streams that provides an all-weather, ready means of suction supply of water (See Appendix A). Dry hydrants use raw water rather than processed water from community water sources, and this results in the reduction of energy consumption for the community. A system of dry hydrants increases the availability of water and reduces the time for fire departments to load water for fire suppression. The level of fire protection may be increased to the point that homeowners and businesses pay less in fire insurance premiums. The cost of a dry hydrant installation varies from $1,500 to $2,500.

All fire departments in the Commonwealth were asked to complete a hydrant survey questionnaire. Five hundred seventy-four (574) primary departments were included. Five hundred fifty-one (551) fire departments furnished data.

A total of 292 dry hydrants are presently in place throughout Virginia. A need for 3,685 additional dry hydrants was found. These locations are plotted on maps of each fire department protection area. The results of the survey are listed in Appendix B. Data from individual fire departments is on file at the Department of Forestry office in Charlottesville.

Dry hydrants are needed in urban, urbanizing and rural areas. Urban and urbanizing areas have the need to reduce the large volume of processed domestic water used in fire control and to protect annexed areas which do not have pressurized hydrants. Rural areas have few readily accessible water sources for fire control.

The study committee recommends that the General Assembly appropriate $150,000 from the oil overcharge funds for fiscal year '93-'94 to allow the installation of additional dry hydrants across the Commonwealth. A dry hydrant grant program has been established which is administered by the Department of Forestry. The $150,000 appropriated in the 1992 session will be used for grants prior to June 30, 1993. An evaluation of the program will be made to determine needed levels of funding from the next biennium budget.