PUBLIC NOTICE –
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2020
Public Notice Regarding Hydrant Testing
Effective immediately, officials at the Village of Fredericktown have prohibited the Fredericktown Community Fire District from conducting our annual fire hydrant flow testing.
Although the Village does flush the municipal water system on an annual basis, this procedure WILL NOT provide the essential fire flow data that is collected through the fire hydrant testing procedure. This data and operational verification is utilized in our fire preplanning procedures of homes and businesses. Additionally, the data is provided to the Village to assist them in monitoring and forecasting water system insufficiencies.
In 2019, our testing took place immediately following the flushing process. Our test results noted 9 fire hydrant deficiencies with 4 of them being inoperable hydrants. This exemplifies the necessity of frequent fire hydrant testing.
We regret that we are unable to provide this valuable service to our community.
WHAT IS HYDRANT TESTING?
These flow tests, as recommended by the NFPA, differ from the hydrant flushing that the Village conducts throughout the year. During the course of hydrant flushing by the Village, they open or close valves as a part of their process. For flow tests to provide accurate data, the hydrant and water system is kept in its “normal” state of operation and would show what pressure and flow rate we should expect on any given day. While it would be great to test the hydrants during the Village “flushing”, it is not possible at this point.
Firefighters will gather the flow data from the hydrants and utilize it to pre-determine what hydrants are best to access when responding to a fire related emergency. If mechanical issues are found, this information will be conveyed over to the Village. All of this information assists with pre-incident planning that our department conducts to ensure we are adequately prepared before the emergency happens.
Fire department officials identified these tests as a priority to help with the district ISO (Insurance Service Office) score, which measures the fire prevention and suppression capabilities of the department.
Fredericktown residents should be advised, the testing of hydrants can cause some rust to appear in the water for a short amount of time. While there are no health hazards associated with this, it is best to avoid washing white or light-colored clothing while testing is underway to avoid the possibility of stains.
The FCFD will post information about our hydrant testing, and areas that we are working in on our Facebook (FCFD Station 410) and our website www.fredericktownfire.netin order to keep residents up to date.
Why do you “flow test” hydrants” the Village already flows the hydrant?
- It helps to identify any mechanical issues with our water service so that we can ensure that we have good water service during emergencies.
- We gather flow data on the hydrants, which helps us to determine which hydrants are the best ones to connect to during fire-related emergencies.
- It is required for our ISO (Insurance Service Office) score, which measures the fire prevention and fire suppression capabilities of cities.
What is ISO?
The Insurance Services Office (ISO) is the agency that establishes the rating system for fire protection, which is used by insurance underwriters to establish insurance rates in communities.
Why is ISO rating so important to me?
The ISO ratings calculate how well-equipped fire departments are to put out fires in that community.
The ISO provides this score, often called the “ISO fire score,” to insurance companies. The insurers then use it to help set insurance rates for residential and commercial properties. The more well-equipped your fire department is to put out a fire, the less likely your house/business is to burn down, and that makes your property less of a risk (and therefore less expensive) to insure.
An ISO fire insurance rating, also referred to as a “fire score” is a score from 1 to 10 that indicates how well-protected your community is by the local fire department.
How will hydrant testing affect me?
Fredericktown residents should be advised, the testing of hydrants can cause some rust to appear in the water for a short amount of time. While there are no health hazards associated with this, it is best to avoid washing white or light-colored clothing while testing is underway to avoid the possibility of stains.
Tip: If you encounter discolored water following hydrant flushing, run the cold water taps throughout your home (bathroom sinks and tubs, kitchen faucets, etc.) for five to ten minutes or until the water runs clear. This allows discolored water to work its way out of your household plumbing. If, after hydrant flushing, your water pressure or volume seems low, clean faucet screens to remove silt and mineral sediment that could be obstructing water flow.
How often is this going to happen?
The FCFD will conduct hydrant testing once before the end fo 2019. Our testing will not effect the flushing cycle completed by the village.
