Fire hydrants
142 Fire hydrants
The council—
must install hydrants in its water mains at such convenient distances, and at such places, as may be necessary for the ready supply of water to extinguish fires, and
must maintain the hydrants in effective working order.
This subsection does not apply to a water main that is less than 100 millimetres in diameter or if the water supply system is not sufficient for the operation of fire hydrants (in such circumstances the council may provide other means for the ready supply of water to extinguish fires).
The council may, at the request and expense of the owner or occupier of a building, install a hydrant (to be used only for extinguishing fires) in or in the vicinity of the building. If such a hydrant is installed, the council must ensure that it is maintained in effective working order.
A council may remove a hydrant from any of its water mains if satisfied on reasonable grounds that the hydrant is no longer needed.
The council must at all times keep charged with water all its pipes to which hydrants are connected unless prevented from doing so—
by drought or other unavoidable cause or accident, or
while necessary repairs to the pipe or hydrant are being carried out.
Persons authorised to do so by the council may take water without charge for the purpose of extinguishing fires.
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