Get Information For Use Of Nyc Hydrants

You can request that a fire hydrant be opened for non-recreational use, if you've been issued a permit by the DEP. Permits are issued in person, at the DEP Bureau of Customer Service office in each borough. If approved, it costs $55 for 30 days, plus $15.19 for each day the hydrant is actually used.

Hydrant misuse is a criminal offence and can cause damage to our network, which may put your home or business at risk during an emergency. An illegal connection can also cause water quality and supply issues, such as pressure changes, discolouration and contamination.

You can ask at your local firehouse to have a hydrant fitted with a spray cap and opened for recreational use. You must be over 18, show ID, and fill out a form. To find a firehouse location, go to the Firehouses page. The firehouse will schedule a time to turn the hydrant on and off.

You must have a permit to open a hydrant and use the water for any reason. You can get a ticket for using a hydrant without a permit.

The first step is to stand behind the fire hydrant. Before turning, place your opposite hand on top of the nut and then use the hydrant wrench to turn the valve clockwise. Turn the valve slowly, approximately a quarter-turn per second, to avoid any sudden surges of water. This is important to prevent water hammer.

The raw force of water gushing from an open hydrant can cause serious injury to a person who hasn't been trained in the proper method to safely open a hydrant. Caps on the hydrant can cannonball into the body of someone standing nearby.

You can legally open a fire hydrant, instantly gushing cool water on the block. All you have to do is ask the FDNY. “Fire hydrant spray caps are a fun way to cool off in the heat, but it's not safe to open the hydrant on your own,” the FDNY posted on Instagram.

For a hydrant to count toward the required fire flow, it must be within 1,000 ft (304 m) of the building. Additionally, in residential areas with only one- and two-family dwellings, at least one hydrant must be within 600 ft (183 m) of the dwelling and fire hydrants cannot be spaced more than 800 ft (244 m) apart.