This dry hydrant located at Tippecanoe Boat Co. It was the primary water supply point during the Ferguson house fire on EMS T35 lane earlier this year. Even when the water source is frozen, water can still be drawn from dry hydrants. (Photo provided)

North Webster-Tippecanoe Township Fire Department has been busy getting new dry fire hydrants installed throughout the area. Dry hydrants can draw on standing bodies of water and help to reduce area homeowners’ insurance rates.

Explained Lt. Trent Nabinger of the NWFD, “Dry hydrant systems are non-pressurized water supply points and are designed for use in a drafting application. Drafting is when a fire apparatus has to use negative pressure to suck water out of a supply source compared to having it pressured by a wet hydrant.”

He continued, “The installation of these systems in static bodies of water or rivers and streams can provide year-round water sources for fire suppression. Installed in strategic areas, they become the ‘water supply system’ for rural fire departments where pressurized systems are not available as in the case of North Webster or Tippecanoe Township.”

The latest dry hydrant to be put in place in North Webster is located just south of Mock Cemetery. Shown pointing to the spot are contractors Bob Richards, left, Brad Richards both of Pierceton Rotary; North Webster Fire Chief Jeremy Likens; Tippecanoe Township Trustee Steve Ward; and North Webster Fire Department Lt. Trent Nabinger. (Photo by Martha Stoelting)

It works like this: PVC pipe is trenched in below the frost line and into a water supply source. Generally, most applications will have a large intake strainer located in the water source to prevent fish and other debris from entering the piping system during drafting.

The advantages of dry hydrants are year-round access to water sources, water sources can be made accessible in some situations where fire apparatus normally would not be able to reach.

There are currently 12 dry hydrants located throughout Tippecanoe Township with more in the planning stages. The NWFD is funded and administered by Tippecanoe Township.