Did you know that Tacoma Water manages a network of over 14,000 fire hydrants? While their primary purpose is public safety and fire suppression, they also play a key role in our operations. Our engineers use them to conduct hydraulic modeling, which is essential for planning, designing, and managing our water infrastructure. We view maintaining hydrants as a critical component of our commitment to public service, health, and safety.
A specialized team will repair and replace up to 100 fire hydrants a week. They remove the stem, clean the rubber seal to prevent leaks, lubricate all moving parts with food grade lubricant, and apply touch up paint to prevent rust.
Our objective is to inspect each hydrant once every three years to help ensure they reach their expected service life of about 50 years. Replacement is necessary when a model is obsolete and its parts are no longer available, or when it sustains irreparable damage, most commonly from a vehicle collision. We currently have about 15 different models in the system, and we work to standardize our inventory even as manufacturers change.
To help us ensure these critical assets are ready for an emergency, we kindly ask customers to avoid planting trees and shrubs within three feet of a hydrant. Maintaining this clearance is required by law and is vital for providing fast and unobstructed access for firefighters when every second counts.