How to use the hydrant (old ponds)

Plant Ops has given us these instructions on how to turn the water on and off at the hydrant next to the old ponds. They have been called a number of times to fix this hydrant because it hasn't been used properly in the past.

The contraption with the handles attached to the hydrant is called a "backflow preventer". It has two hand levers.

To turn water on:

• Make sure both handles on the backflow preventer are closed (vertical position)
• Open hydrant valve at top of hydrant using the wrench. Turn until fully open, then go back one-half turn.
• Turn levers on backflow preventer to adjust the flow of water into the hose (if one is open without the other, water will just be dumped onto the ground - this is to prevent backflow)
• Do not use the hydrant valve (with wrench) to adjust water flow. It  should always be fully open when running water.

To turn water off:

• Turn the hydrant off fully (as tightly as possible).
• When air valve whistles, turn off the hand levers on backflow preventer.