Dry hydrants are the nonpressurized equivalent of fire hydrants found in urban areas. Instead of drawing from municipal water systems, dry hydrants are permanently installed in ponds or lakes and are used to fight fires.

The ponds chosen must be large enough to have sufficient water year round. The minimum water output required to fight a fire is 1,200 gallons per minute for two hours or about 30,000 gallons.

Each dry hydrant can serve up to a three-mile radius. The hydrants are connected to pipes sunk 2 feet underwater, far below the frost line. This way, pipes don't freeze in winter and fire companies can get water even if there is ice cover.

The pipes are self draining, so water does not freeze inside.

Firefighters use the hydrants two ways. If close enough, firefighters attach a hose to the dry hydrant and pump water directly from the pond to the fire.

Or, if they have to travel a distance to a fire site, firefighters can pull water from the pond onto tanker trucks and transport it to the site.

The Butler County Conservation District, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Penn's Corner Resource Conservation and Development, and Central Electric are working to provide dry hydrants for municipalities and fire companies.

Fire companies and municipalities can contact the conservation district for more information at 724-284-5270.

Ron Fodor is district manager of the Butler County Conservation District.