We are now inspecting and flow rating fire hydrants, as part of our proactive annual maintenance program. This work ensures the ongoing integrity of the drinking water system and helps support fire protection in Kingston. Residents may notice discoloured tap water or reduced water pressure and can be assured the water is still safe. They should run their cold water tap until it is clear.  

Our annual program to inspect and flow rate municipal fire hydrants helps ensure that a high quality of drinking water is maintained from the time water leaves the treatment plant, as it is distributed throughout the system and all the way to your tap. The program ensures the integrity of Kingston’s water distribution system.

All 3,563 hydrants in the municipal water distribution system are inspected each year and 20 per cent of the hydrants are flow-rated on an annual basis. This year, that’s 875 hydrants in Zone Eight (east of Bayridge Dr., west of Gardiners Rd., south of Princess St. and north of Point Cres.) and Zone Four (east of Coronation Blvd., Bayridge Dr. to the west, and Creekford Rd. to the south), as well as approximately 100 newly installed hydrants across the city. View a map of hydrant zones.

As part of this program, our licensed water distribution operators will inspect mechanical parts for proper operation, assess the overall condition of fire hydrants, and flush and flow-rate hydrants. Once the hydrants are rated, they are marked blue, green, orange or red to let firefighters know the flow rate.  Operators use mobile applications on tablets to collect and manage accurate fire hydrant data while in the field.  

Neat to know:

• The 2023 program employs three summer students, who receive the required skills, training and certification, further developing youth employment in Kingston.
• Automated field data collection for the fire hydrant inspection program using the location-based application Collector for ArcGIS reduces paperwork and increases productivity by digitizing processes. 

Flow rating requires operators to open the hydrant to maximum flow. This can reduce water pressure and disturb deposits that normally occur in water mains, possibly discolouring the water that services neighbouring homes and businesses. The water is still safe and residents are encouraged to flush their pipes until the water is clear.  

Fire hydrant inspection and flow-rating will take place Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. until December. To find more information about the program visit our Fire hydrant inspection and flow rating web page.