Becoming a drinking water carter

Hydrants in our service area are usually used for firefighting. When you have a water carting permit, you can use the hydrants for water carting.

Before you apply to become a water carter, you’ll need to read the important information on this page and take the hydrant user questionnaire.

Carry your permit with you at all times

We will send you a permit letter, a log sheet and a hydrant user card once you have completed all the steps to become a registered water carter. 

Always carry your permit letter, log sheet and hydrant user card with you. We do regular spot checks and may ask to see these documents as you’re accessing our hydrants.

It is illegal to access a hydrant without a valid permit. If you access a hydrant without a permit, you may face prosecution and fines.

You no longer need to display a sticker on your truck. 

Find the right kind of hydrant

There are a few types of hydrants in our service area.

Hydrants you can use

You can draw water from L-type hydrants with red tops and below ground hydrants across our service area.

You can use ground ball hydrants in the Macedon Ranges, Moorabool, Hume and some parts of Melton and Wyndham.

An L-type hydrant and a below-ground hydrant with a marker pole.

Hydrants you can’t use

Do not collect water from pillar ball hydrants (with round, red tops) and L-type hydrants (with black flat tops). These types of hydrants are connected to distribution water mains.

Pillar-ball and L-type fire hydrants with black tops can’t be used to collect water.

Use the correct equipment

When you access a hydrant, use a hydrant key and a hose with the correct kind of nozzle.

Make sure you have backflow prevention measures in place and that they are working. This includes using an approved reduced pressure zone device (RPZD) or having your vehicle equipped with an air gap.

Be safe around traffic

When you are accessing a hydrant near the road, use signs and traffic cones around your truck and wear a safety vest.

If possible, park your truck in a parking bay while you are accessing a hydrant.

Fill out your log sheet

Every time you access a hydrant, you must fill out your provided log sheet.

Total your usage at the end of the month and email copies of your log sheet/s between the first and the fifth of the following month to bulkwater@gww.com.au.

Operating a hydrant

Always turn hydrants on or off slowly. Turning the water on or off too quickly can result in a shockwave (or water-hammer) running through the pipes. This will cause significant damage to the pipes and may affect the community’s water supply. Always turn hydrants on and off slowly.

Connecting to a hydrant  

Before you connect to a hydrant, make sure you have working backflow prevention measures in place. 

Connecting (anti-clockwise)

This includes using an approved reduced pressure zone device (RPZD) or having your vehicle equipped with an air gap.

1. If you are connecting to a ground ball hydrant make sure that the ball is not damaged prior to connecting to the hydrant.  
2. Connect to the hydrant using the correct equipment, including the hydrant key.  
3. For L-type hydrants, slowly turn the water on in an anti-clockwise direction. Don't spray water over the road.
4. For below-ground hydrants, slowly turn the water on in a clockwise direction. Don't spray water over the road.

Disconnecting (clockwise)

Disconnecting from a hydrant

1. Slowly turn the water off to avoid the hydrant seizing. 
2. Disconnect from the hydrant and check that there is no water around the site. 
3. Replace the hydrant's cover.

If something goes wrong  

There are a few things that may cause hydrant and fire plug leaks, like stones caught in the fire plug, worn insertion rubbers or a damaged hydrant ball. 

If something goes wrong while you are accessing a hydrant: 

• leave the connection in place, do not try and remove the connection with force

• leave the water running, or if possible, turn the water off slowly.  

Call us on 13 44 99 to report the fault.