Hydrants installed with a new main should be pressure tested along with the main, and the hydrant's auxiliary valves should be closed during the test. Which statement best reflects the correct practice?

• A. Hydrants installed with a new main should be pressure tested independently after the main test and the hydrant valves opened.
• B. New hydrants installed with a new main should not be pressure tested with the main.
• C. New hydrants installed with a new main should be pressure tested along with the main, and the hydrant's auxiliary valves should be closed during the test.
• D. Hydrants installed with a new main require only visual inspection, not pressure testing.

Answer: (C)

When a new main is installed with hydrants, you must pressure test the entire installation with the hydrants in place, while keeping the hydrant’s auxiliary valves closed. Testing the main and hydrant connections together ensures the system can hold design pressure throughout the network, including the interfaces at each hydrant. Closing the auxiliary valves stops water from escaping through the hydrant’s drain or service paths during the test, which would skew results and mask leaks. This approach confirms there are no hidden leaks in the main or its connections to hydrants before putting the system in service. Visual inspection alone isn’t sufficient to detect leaks under pressure, and testing hydrants separately or omitting pressure testing wouldn’t reliably verify the integrity of the whole installation.