Goochland County Begins Annual Dry Hydrant Testing This April

Goochland County Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services has begun its annual testing and preventative maintenance program for dry hydrants this April, with inspections covering the ponds, lakes, and streams scattered across the county that form the backbone of rural fire suppression.

Unlike pressurized hydrants tied to municipal water lines, dry hydrants draw directly from natural and man-made water bodies, making them the primary water source for firefighting crews working in the parts of Goochland where public utilities don't reach. Technicians back flush the systems and check flow rates during each inspection to verify a hydrant can deliver the volume crews depend on when a structure catches fire.

Trident Mobile Service, LLC is handling this year's testing, preventive maintenance, and inspections. Residents will see the contractor moving through the county over the coming weeks. The department is reaching out directly to homeowners and property owners whose land includes a dry hydrant to give advance notice before crews arrive. The full inspection cycle is expected to wrap by early summer.

Property owners with questions about the program can contact coordinator Kirsten Martin with Goochland County Fire-Rescue and Emergency Services at 804-556-5304 or kmartin@goochlandva.us.

Fire Chief Eddie Ferguson leads a department that operates as a combination system, pairing career staff with volunteer firefighters and EMS providers across six stations staffed 24 hours a day. Maintaining certified, functional dry hydrants countywide is a fundamental part of that readiness, particularly as Goochland continues to grow while retaining the rural character that makes the alternative water supply network so essential.