Interstate Resource Conservation and Development
3020 East First Avenue
Milan, Illinois 61264
Phone 309-764-1486 Extension 4/Fax 309-764-1830
Dry Hydrants
Interstate RC&D has received funding from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and the US Forest Service for the installation of dry hydrants and portable hydrants in our 5-county RC&D area.
A dry fire hydrant is a non-pressurized PVC pipe with a water hydrant head above ground and a strainer located in the water. Dry fire hydrants are installed in lakes, ponds, rivers or other suitable water bodies capable of providing adequate water supplies. This provides rural fire departments convenient access to water in rural areas to assist with fire fighting.
Benefits of dry fire hydrants: Improves fire protection and saves time; conserves treated water; saves energy; reduces operating costs of fire departments; may reduce rural fire protection insurance. Dry fire hydrant systems ensure an adequate water supply in areas where conventional fire protection is not available. Energy is conserved by using raw surface water instead of treated drinking water. Time and energy are saved by reducing the travel distance for shuttling water. Adequate water supplies can reduce fire losses and lives. The dry fire hydrants may also lower the cost of insurance.
The following fire departments have installed dry hydrants: New Windsor, Illinois City, Orion, Reynolds, Osco-Andover, Port Byron, Colona, Viola, LeClaire, Iowa and Dixon, Iowa. The New Windsor Fire Department, Colona Fire Department, Coal Valley Fire Department and the Osco-Andover Fire Department have also received a portable pump.
We have now completed this project and funding is not available at this time. If you have any questions please contact our office at info@interstatercd.org
Click below to view pictures of the dry hydrants from each fire department. These are in a power point presentation.
New Windsor Fire Department Hennenfent Dry Hydrant in use
Port Byron Fire Department Installation of Dry Hydrant in the Mississippi River
