Bridge-Mounted Dry Hydrants (BMDH)

Turn your existing infrastructure into a high-capacity water drafting station.

In many rural and infrastructure-limited areas of Ontario, the most reliable water source isn’t a pond or a tank, it’s the river or creek flowing beneath a bridge. Blue Bear Waterworks designs and installs bridge-mounted dry hydrants (BMDHs) that transform these crossing points into permanent, all-weather Approved Water Supply Point (AWSP) for Superior Tanker Shuttle Service (STSS) certification in Ontario.

By mounting high-performance drafting pipes directly to bridge structures, we provide fire departments with a stable, high-capacity suction point that bypasses the risks of mud, soft shoulders, and seasonal water fluctuations.

Why Bridge-Mounted Hydrants?

• Superior Access & Stability: Bridges provide a level, engineered platform for heavy pumper trucks to park and draft, regardless of weather or soil conditions.

• Consistent Deep-Water Drafting: Stream banks can be shallow or prone to erosion. A bridge allows the intake to be positioned in the deepest part of the channel, ensuring water access during summer droughts and beneath winter ice.

• Reduced Friction Loss: Strategically placed bridge hydrants allow for shorter suction hose runs and more efficient pump priming compared to long-distance bank drafts.

• Vandalism & Debris Protection: Because the intake is suspended over the water source rather than sitting on a bank, it is less susceptible to tampering, silting, and terrestrial debris.

• Insurance Premium Reductions (The "FUS" Factor): In Ontario, the Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) allows residents within 8km of a station and 5km of a dry hydrant to receive a "Hydrant Protected" status for insurance.

Municipalities & Large Property Owners

• Superior Tanker Shuttle Service (STSS): Bridge hydrants are key to helping rural townships achieve or maintain STSS, which can significantly lower fire insurance premiums for local residents and businesses.

• Insurance Risk Mitigation: For commercial facilities located near waterways, a bridge-mounted hydrant can act as a recognized alternative water supply for Fire Underwriters Survey (FUS) grading.

• Infrastructure Synergy: We work with municipal works departments to integrate dry hydrants into new bridge builds or rehabilitation projects, saving on long-term installation costs.

2026 Regulatory Compliance & AMPs

With the introduction of Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) in Ontario, under the Fire Protection and Prevention Act (FPPA), fire inspectors can now issue penlty orders for non-compliant water supplies. A Blue Bear Bridge Hydrant ensures compliance by providing:

• Certified Flow Rates: Guaranteed minimums of 3,800 L/min (1,000 GPM) as required for STSS accreditation.

• NFPA 1142 Documentation: Complete site surveys and hydrologic data required for your "Recognized Water Supply" status.

• All-Weather Readiness: New restrictions on "soft-entry" drafting points is a new discussion, determined by each municipality and fire chief, based on potential failures during Ontario's spring thaw or extreme winters.

Technical Notes & Compliance

• Engineering Standards: All bridge installations are designed to NFPA 1142 (Standard on Water Supplies for Suburban and Rural Fire Fighting) and align with CSA S6 (Canadian Highway Bridge Design Code) to ensure structural integrity and vibration resistance.

• Lift Considerations: We conduct site-specific hydraulic calculations to ensure the "vertical lift" remains within the 10–12 foot NFPA recommendation for optimal pumper performance, resulting in 1,200-1,500 GPM with 6" pipe.

• Material Durability: We utilize Schedule 40 PVC with custom-manufactured brackets designed to withstand Ontario’s weather shifts.

• Connections: Standardized couplings and protective caps, ensuring instant compatibility with local fire department equipment.

• Ice Breaker: A variety of attachment options are available that can be added onto the lowering apparatus, to puncture through the ice.

• Regulatory Approvals: We assist the local municipality with the permitting process with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), Ministry of Natural Resources (MNRF), and local Conservation Authorities to ensure environmental and structural compliance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does the bridge need to be owned by the municipality? Not necessarily. Private bridges on large estates, industrial sites, or logging roads can be equipped with dry hydrants to protect specific assets, provided they meet the weight-bearing requirements for a fire apparatus.

What is the required water depth for a bridge intake? For optimal pumper performance, we position the strainer so the bottom plate sits 4-6 inches above the stream bed. To ensure 100% drafting capacity without "vortexing" (sucking air), the top of the strainer requires a minimum of 6 inches of water cover during low-flow seasonal periods.

Will the installation damage the bridge structure? No. We use non-destructive mounting techniques and lightweight, high-strength materials that do not compromise the structural rating or the "CL-625-ONT" bridge code standards.

Book a site assessment

Book a site assessment for your bridge dry hydrant:

Email: Andrew@BlueBearWaterworks.ca