Minot develops long-term plan for hydrant upkeep
Long-term plan developed for hydrant system
Jill Schramm/MDN Gary Carpenter, a utility operator with the City of Minot, opens a hydrant as Kaitlynn Wiggins, a part-time utility operator with the city, looks on Thursday in southeast Minot. The two are inspecting, flushing and painting hydrants this year as part of an updated maintenance program.
With nearly 2,300 hydrants to maintain, the Minot Fire Department and Public Works Department have come together with a new long-term program to better ensure the vital infrastructure will perform when needed.
Flushing activities previously performed by firefighters now are among duties of a two-member crew from the city’s water department who are committing part-time hours to the project into October.
Public Works Director Dan Jonasson told the Minot City Council Monday that a new asset management software system coming online later this year will help in monitoring the new inventory and maintenance program.
The city will be working on inventory and hydrant painting on Mondays and Fridays. Flushing, inspection and repairs will occur primarily on Tuesdays and Thursdays. If water restrictions are in place due to dry conditions, the city will refrain from flushing and will focus on inspections and painting.
“The goal is to complete 50% of the public hydrants each year. We’ve actually already started on this. We’ve done over 200 of them with the nice weather we had back in March,” Jonasson said.
Jill Schramm/MDN City workers flush a hydrant east of Roosevelt Park Zoo Thursday.
There also are between 200 and 300 private hydrants in Minot, typically in mobile home parks and at apartment complexes. Those hydrants haven’t always been in working condition when needed by the fire department. The fire department is supplying private owners with a list of contractors who perform the inspection and maintenance. Owners potentially could face fire code citations if they fail to produce annual inspection records showing compliance.
Fire Chief Kelli Kronschnabel said the city wants to ensure the public and private systems are in shape to retain the city’s Class II fire rating. The fire rating influences the fire insurance costs of businesses and homeowners.
Additionally, Jonasson said, the program will identify a more robust, long-term replacement plan for cast iron water pipes in older parts of the city.
“We currently have about 86 miles of cast iron pipe in the city. So it’s costly. The initial estimate is around $250 million of pipe that needs to be replaced,” he said. The intent is to develop a long-term funding plan to begin allocating dollars toward future replacement.
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- Jill Schramm/MDN Gary Carpenter, a utility operator with the City of Minot, opens a hydrant as Kaitlynn Wiggins, a part-time utility operator with the city, looks on Thursday in southeast Minot. The two are inspecting, flushing and painting hydrants this year as part of an updated maintenance program.
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- Jill Schramm/MDN City workers flush a hydrant east of Roosevelt Park Zoo Thursday.
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- Submitted Photo Missoula Children’s Theatre will be bringing the production of “Johnny Appleseed” to Minot in June. Area children are sought to audition.
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