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Standpipes

Portable Metered Standpipes

General

Standpipes are portable hydrants designed to be connected to a Fire Hydrant in a water main to gain access to bulk water.   All standpipes used in Hunter Water’s area of operations must be metered and hired from the Corporation.  There are currently three sizes of metered standpipes- 50mm, 32mm and 20mm.

Conditions for Hire of a Standpipe

To hire a metered standpipe the applicant must complete an Application for Portable Metered Standpipe and a Credit Check Application providing full details of the person/company’s property and postal address. A credit check will be performed prior to the approval to hire a metered standpipe.

50mm standpipe

  • can only be used in conjunction with filling water carrying vehicles;
  • water carrying vehicles must pass inspection prior to standpipe issue;
  • can only be used at approved designated Hydrants;
  • no exceptions to the above;
     

32mm and 20mm standpipes

  • no restriction where they can be used; although areas to be avoided include:-
    -  dead end mains,
    -  cul de sacs,
    -  where pressure could be affected resulting in low pressure to customers.

Safety aspects are to be taken into consideration when standpipes are being used:

  • appropriate barriers and  hazard signage,
  • hydrants located in the middle of the road are not to be used,
  • hydrant must be in short distance from where it is being used (no further than one average house block away)

The Standpipe Application Fee is required to be paid when lodging your application.  If  you have a water carrying vehicle, the Water Storage Tank Inspection Fee is also required at the time of application. Details of both these charges can be found under our Miscellaneous Charges section.

Once the application has been approved identification must be sighted and copied (a Driver’s License is preferable) and hire security bond must be paid prior to the standpipe being issued. 

Requirements

  • Monthly meter readings MUST be either phoned in to 1300 657 657 (business hours), emailed to standpipe.reading@hunterwater.com.au , or read at a local Customer Centre by presenting the standpipe in person so accounts can be issued;
  • Standpipes are to be inspected 4-monthly by a Hunter Water Contractor or 12-monthly if you provide monthly photographs of the standpipe along with the meter reading.
  • Water carrying vehicles are to be inspected 12 monthly.

Included with the application for the Portable Metered Standpipe are the Term and Conditions relating to its hire.  Please read through these Terms and Conditions carefully as they are the basis for which the standpipe is hired.  Any breach of these Terms and Conditions may result in the Standpipe Hire arrangement being cancelled.  If the Standpipe is damaged or stolen, Hunter Water may withhold all or part of the Security Bond to pay for the replacement or repair of the Standpipe. Click here to download the application pack.

To avoid any delays in processing, please ensure the application is fully completed and any documentation requested is attached to the application.  If all the required information is not supplied the application will be returned to you for completion.

Please forward completed applications to:

Standpipe Coordinator
Hunter Water Corporation
PO BOX 5171
HRMC 2310

Applications for 50mm Standpipes may take up to 21 days for processing with 32mm and 20mm standpipes approximately one to two weeks. Please take this period of time into consideration when lodging your applications.