Fire Hydrants: An Important Part of Your Water Service
There are about 20,000 IRWD-owned fire hydrants stationed throughout the District’s service area. These fire hydrants and the water distributed from them provide the reliable source of fire protection expected by our customers.
IRWD, like other water suppliers in Orange County, owns and maintains these hydrants to aid the Orange County Fire Authority and other firefighting entities in extinguishing fires that threaten the properties we serve.
The hydrants are also used by the District for water system operations and maintenance.
Hydrant location and placement
Hydrants are designed and installed during the development process in close proximity to properties that intend to connect to the District’s water system.
Like virtually all public water systems in the country, the location, water flow and size of hydrants are dictated by standards set by local fire authorities. These standards provide the water needed to protect life and property in areas served by the water district.
For most of IRWD’s service area, the Orange County Fire Authority sets the development standards for the hydrants. IRWD, after coordinating with OCFA on the applicable standards, oversees the construction to the designated size, location and number of hydrants for a development within the District’s service area.
Hydrants are sized and positioned to provide the water flow needed for firefighters to extinguish fires that might directly threaten property near the hydrant. Hydrant systems are not intended or designed to fight large wildfires or brush fires.
Who is authorized to tap into hydrants?
No person or entity other than the local fire authority or water district personnel should be tampering in any way with a fire hydrant. IRWD may issue water meters to third parties for construction and other projects, but any other use of water from hydrants is not authorized.
Why does IRWD sometimes let water out of hydrants?
Fire hydrants are also used by water agencies for water system operations and maintenance, allowing for:
- The occasional flushing of water pipelines to remove minerals and sedimentary buildup.
- The testing of proper operation of the hydrant and its available flow.
- The testing of water quality where sampling stations are unavailable.
How does IRWD prepare its water system for fires?
IRWD coordinates closely with the Orange County Fire Authority and other firefighting entities to prepare for fire and other emergencies. Other precautions include:
- Monitoring: Staff watches local weather patterns and conditions that heighten risk, such as low relative humidity, strong winds, dry fuels, the possibility of lightning strikes and more. Our facilities are routinely inspected.
- Water supply: We top off water storage tanks and reservoirs when the risk of fire is high. These tanks use gravity to deliver water to communities at lower elevations.
- Reservoirs: Irvine Lake and IRWD’s other open reservoirs are used by fire authorities to draw water for fighting wildfires with fixed-wing and rotorcraft air attacks. Local firefighters and emergency response teams also use our reservoirs to practice these maneuvers.
- Power: Permanent generators at pumping stations keep the water flowing to the tanks during power outages. Portable generators can be brought in as needed during long-term outages.
- Maintenance: IRWD actively maintains all hydrants in its system. This includes continuous upkeep, such as testing hydrants and painting them regularly, and replacing any malfunctioning hydrant as quickly as possible.
- Communication: We maintain steady communication with other agencies and first-responders to make sure hazardous conditions are addressed before problems strike.
- Public Safety Power Shutoffs: When Southern California Edison calls a Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) and turns off power in high-risk areas, IRWD is ready to continue operating according to all actions taken above. Find more information on PSPS responses here.
