20/06/2014

Archived item. This item is published here for historical reasons. The information below may be out of date.

Important Notice from South Dublin County Council regarding unauthorised use of Fire Hydrants

Water is one of our most valuable resources but clean water is both expensive to produce and to manage.

Drinking, cooking, washing, bathing – we use water in so many ways. When we turn on the tap we all expect to be assured of clean, safe water being delivered to our homes and businesses. It seems simple, but there is a complex and expensive process to treating your drinking water so it is transformed into the clean water we all enjoy and use every day.

Water is also used by the Fire Brigade to assist them in extinguishing fires. In order for them to do this, Fire Hydrants have been installed at regular intervals along the watermain network.

Recently in some isolated incidents, fire hydrants have been opened by people not authorised to do so. This can lead to a number of serious problems such as;

• If a fire were to occur there could be insufficient water to fight the fire.
• The loss of water through hydrants limits the water available to supply homes within the estates.
• The loss of water also reduces the water pressure in homes.
• It could lead to the flooding of homes and damage to property.
• It can also lead to serious damage to the pipes and the hydrants themselves.
• It is also possible than contamination of the water supply could enter the watermains as a result of unauthorised use of fire hydrants.

Unauthorised use of Fire Hydrants threaten the quality of water delivered to your home or business, and can lower pressure in the water lines required for fire protection.

South Dublin County Council is appealing to everyone not to tamper or open fire hydrants without permission. The Council further requests the assistance of the public by reporting details of any such incidents immediately to the Gardai and the Council.