Oxnard Water Distribution Fire Hydrant Maintenance

Fire hydrants are an essential part of a distribution system. The main function of a fire hydrant is to maintain adequate fire protection. It�s extremely important that fire hydrants function properly. Firefighting personnel connect their fire hoses to draw water out of fire hydrants when they are putting out fires. Hydrants are also used as a source of temporary water for construction sites and for flushing water mains. The Water Distribution Program has established and maintains an ongoing program to service hydrants. As part of our recordkeeping, all hydrants are entered into a database that is used to maintain a detailed history
of each hydrant. The database is also used to schedule and generate work orders for maintenance. Presently, there are over 4000 hydrants in the City of Oxnard water system.

Maintenance performed on hydrants consists of checking the valve on the lateral coming from the main line, then checking the valves on the hydrant itself, by turning them on and off, and checking the threads for any damage on the outlets where the caps go. Next, the break-a-way bolts are inspected to ensure their operability. Break-a-way bolts are designed to allow the hydrant to break away from the piping if a vehicle should hit it. If any of these components are found not to be operating properly, they are repaired. The hydrant is also painted with high visibility yellow paint so firefighters can easily see them.