Fire hydrants

The fire hydrants used by fire and rescue services to supply water for firefighting are called statutory fire hydrants (as opposed to private fire hydrants found on private water mains). They are owned, installed and maintained by Kent’s five water companies.

Fire hydrants are mainly found on pavements, but can also be found on the road or in nearby public spaces, such as grass verges.

We carry out inspections of all statutory fire hydrants in the county, prioritised by risk, to make sure they work properly. We have a team able to handle some minor repairs and maintenance on fire hydrants, but any major repair work has to be done by the local water company.

We are working with members of the Kent Association of Local Councils (KALC) to make local residents and parish council members aware of their fire hydrants and so they know what they can do about any problems they discover. These include:

1. Missing, damaged or covered fire hydrant marker plates 

Missing or damaged hydrant marker plates can usually be fixed by us.

Hydrant marker plates are rectangular yellow signs, with a large black H and a pair of numbers, usually attached to a wall, lamp post or a short concrete post. The two numbers on the plate show the size of the water main and the approximate distance of the hydrant from the plate. 

As well as marker plates, all hydrants are also shown on the digital maps available in fire engines, so that the nearest one can be found while firefighters are on their way to an incident. This also means that even if marker plates are missing or broken, the fire service will still be able to find them in most cases, and once reported they will be repaired in due course.

If the marker plate is covered by overgrown grass or plants, residents can help by cutting back any plants or bushes that are covering the hydrant indicator post. 

2. Dangerous, missing or cracked hydrant covers and frames 

When a fire hydrant cover is missing or cracked, it can expose the hydrant to the elements, which can cause it to freeze and get blocked with mud or silt. This can stop it working when firefighters need it. 

3. Leaks from fire hydrants 

Most leaks are below ground and not visible, but even leaks on the surface are often not reported due to people assuming someone else will have already reported a problem. Leaks affect water flow and pressure from a fire hydrant, making it less effective if firefighters need to use it. Please report any leaks as soon as they are discovered.

4. Leaks from water supply pipes or mains 

Leaks from water supply pipes or mains are the responsibility of the water company but can affect the availability of water from a fire hydrant. The sooner leaks are reported to the water company, the sooner they can fix the problem. 

5. Illegal use of fire hydrants 

Many problems with fire hydrants are caused by illegal use. It is illegal to use a fire hydrant to obtain water for purposes other than firefighting "unless authorised by the water authority or another person to whom the hydrant belongs" (source: Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, section 42, subsection 6).

The public can tell the local water companies or the fire service when they suspect illegal use. Key pieces of information such as the registration number and any company names on a vehicle, along with the date, time and location of the activity will be very helpful, but please avoid confrontation with suspected offenders.

6. Parking on or preventing access to a fire hydrant

It is an offence to be parked over or to prevent access to a fire hydrant when it is required for firefighting (source: Fire and Rescue Services Act 2004, section 42, subsection 7). Parking for a short time on a hydrant can occur occasionally, but if this happens repeatedly with the same vehicle it should be reported to the water services team at Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

Please be considerate when parking near a fire hydrant marker post and ask friends, relatives and neighbours to be aware, as this could save time in an emergency.

Alternative emergency water supplies

As well as fire hydrants, we can use open water sources at incidents, including ponds and swimming pools. Please report these sources - if they are on private land owned or occupied by an individual or company - to the water services team, giving key information including the location and capacity if known.

We are already aware of all public water sources such as rivers. 

In the event of a fire, we will use every available water source to tackle it. After the incident, any water that has been used will be replenished free of charge, at a time agreed by the local water company and the fire service.