During hydrant operation, which action should be performed first?

• A. Connect supply hose to pumper
• B. Crack hydrant slowly
• C. Monitor water pressure
• D. Check for leaks

Answer: (A)

Establishing a reliable water supply by attaching the supply hose to the pumper is done first. This creates the direct path for water from the hydrant through the pump, allowing air to be purged and preventing the pump from running dry or drawing air into the system. Once the line is secured, you can open the hydrant gradually to charge the line and introduce water under control. After the line is charged, monitoring the water pressure helps ensure the system is delivering the correct flow and staying within safe operating limits, and checking for leaks can be done as the system pressurizes. Without the supply hose connected first, the other actions won’t be effective and could cause pressure surges or cavitation.