Boshart Yard Hydrants are NOT for Potable (Drinking Water) applications.
The suitability of Yard Hydrants in Potable Water applications is often debated. This question often comes up in regard to “Campground Applications”. While our yard hydrants are suitable for, and commonly used in NON-POTABLE campground applications, they are NOT suitable for POTABLE (Drinking Water) applications. With regards to use of the Boshart yard hydrants in campgrounds, we must go in two different directions to address their use.
#1 – Non–Potable Water Applications:
Standard type Yard hydrants such as our YHP, YHBR and YHSS Series are
commonly used for washdown of sewage hoses and fittings at the dumping stations (See Photos #1 & #2 Below). Absolutely no controversy here, the hydrants are typically clearly marked as not to be used for drinking water. However, it is recommended that an approved back flow preventer device be installed to ensure that there is no chance of back siphonage into the potable
water supply if the end of the hose is left submersed in undesirable fluids, such as Sewage or Effluent for example.
#2 – Potable Water Applications:
The bottom line is that it is the sole responsibility of the system designer, AHJ (authority
Having Jurisdiction) and the installer to make sure the yard hydrant / hydrant installation meets all the applicable national and / or local plumbing and building code requirements.
These regulations seem to vary depending on the area you are in. This this question can only be answered by the AHJ (Authorities Having Jurisdiction). We do not recommend our yard hydrants for the potable water supply since we do know all the code requirements in your area.
CAUTION: In many areas the installation of a “Sanitary" yard hydrant is mandated by code regardless of the application. Boshart does not currently offer any sanitary yard hydrants.
You may have to go with a product like the Simmons 6800LF Series (See Photo #3) for a potable water application.
A sanitary yard hydrant is a yard hydrant with a completely sealed unit to which the water
in the standpipe drains back into (no drainage bed required – no possibility of cross
contamination). They effectively prevent contaminated ground water from being drawn in
through the drain port from the drainage bed entering yard hydrant unit if a vacuum situation was to occur. This is a condition that could potentially occur if the yard hydrant is not properly maintained and the plunger wears over the years, it would be extremely unlikely with a plunger in good working condition.
NOTE: This is a difficult stance to take as we know there are campgrounds in which various brands of the standard type of yard hydrants are being used for potable water supply at the campsites (See photo #4 below). Boshart is not able to advise on whether they meet the code requirements in the respective areas. To the best of our knowledge these installations would not meet code requirements! The most common practice for potable water supply at campgrounds is a water line plumbed to a hose bibb fastened to a wooden post (See photo #5 below). These systems would need to be blown out for winterization, but there are no
issues with the saturation of the soil / drainage bed due to the high number of on and off cycles which drains the pipe each time.
Source of Confusion
The No-Lead certification is source of confusion as it sends a mixed message! Typically, NL Certification only pertains to “POTABLE WATER” products. The no-lead regulators take the stance that any valve that has a “Hose Bibb” connection is not intended for drinking or cooking (potable water applications)! While this sounds good in theory, we all know that our
kids and adult’s alike drink from the water hose and fill water bottles at yard hydrants in the parks whether or not they are “intended for drinking”. Boshart and some other Yard Hydrant manufacturers developed product that met the new 2014 SDWA lead requirements to protect those who drink from the hose and limit our liabilities in these scenarios. So, while lead will not be a factor, you do run a very small risk of getting some cross contaminated water from the drain bed. I hope this information is helpful, I am sure you can appreciate the situation and why we do not advise that the Boshart YHP, YHBR, YHSS or YHS series yard hydrants are suitable for potable water / all campground applications. We do not want to put our customers at risk of any potential liability claims installing them.
WARNING: It is the responsibility of the qualified system designer, AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) and the installer to make sure the yard hydrant / hydrant installation meets all the applicable national and / or local plumbing and building code requirements. Boshart does not sell or market the yard hydrants for Potable (Drinking) Water applications. Since their use in a potable water system is outside their intended use. All liabilities due to misuse of the product is assumed by the installer / end user. It is their responsibility to make sure installations meet all the applicable National and or Local codes in the area, and materials and products are approved by the AHJ over the project.