Fire hydrants are used by many people for different reasons. Except for fire departments and the Water Authority, anyone using a fire hydrant must have a permit. This is to prevent water contamination from back-flows and improper operation. The Authority inspects or obtains certification of the users' equipment and instructs on proper use before issuing a permit with ongoing advice from fire departments. Permit holders are required to use only designated hydrants so as not to inconvenience other customers. These designated hydrants, as well as all other hydrants are maintained on a regular basis.

The following entities use fire hydrants:

• Fire departments for fighting fires, preplanning fire training, and filling booster tanks.
• Street cleaners use fire hydrants and must have a permit for each piece of equipment.
• Tree sprayers, etc. use fire hydrants and must have a permit for each piece of equipment.
• Contractors use fire hydrants and must have a permit.
• The Suffolk County Water Authority uses fire hydrants to flush out sediment, rust, etc. from water mains. We also use fire hydrants to conduct fire flow tests for fire rating organizations, insureance companies, fire departments and other interested parties. Fees for such tests are listed in the Authority's Rules and Regulations Fee Schedule.