Facilities with privately-owned fire hydrants are responsible for ensuring that they will work as designed for fire suppression. This involves meeting important maintenance and testing requirements.

  1. Private Fire Hydrant testing and maintenance is required to be conducted annually to conform with NFPA 25, Chapter 4 (for more information go to NFPA.org).
  2. The Austin Fire Department (or other local fire marshal) must be notified prior to any work that could impair fire suppression capabilities in conjunction with this required testing and maintenance.
  3. A Private Fire Hydrant Contractor approved by the Austin Fire Department must be used to conduct the required testing and maintenance.
  4. A copy of the test and maintenance report for each private fire hydrant must be Submitted to the Austin Water Utility’s Special Services Division by the applicable annual due date.

Learn more about rules for using fire hydrant water.