Which practice helps prevent overloading a single hydrant when multiple hydrants are used?

• A. Ignore flows and push water through a single hydrant.
• B. Monitor flows and distribute demand across hydrants.
• C. Maintain constant discharge pressure regardless of demand.
• D. Use only half the hoses.

Answer: (B)

Balancing hydrant flows across multiple outlets is the practice that prevents overloading a single hydrant. When several lines are being fed, it’s important to monitor the flow from each hydrant and spread the demand so no one outlet or main is pushed beyond its capacity. This preserves the necessary pressures for all lines, reduces excessive friction losses in the supply piping, and helps keep water supply steady as fire flow needs change. Pushing all water through one hydrant can exhaust its capacity, drop pressures, and risk equipment or supply failure. Maintaining a constant discharge pressure without regard to demand or using only half the hoses doesn’t address how to share the load or maximize available resources.