Dry Hydrant Grant

The Division of Forestry intermittently has State Fire Assistance Funds available from the U.S. Forest Service for dry hydrant installation, which also includes manhole systems and cisterns. These funds are granted to Connecticut to help communities with projects that would lessen the risk of a wildfire disaster and improve regional preparedness. Connecticut is heavily populated and heavily forested, and many fire departments struggle with rural water supply. 

Public Act #11-184, An Act Creating a Rebuttable Presumption for the Approval of an Inland Wetlands Permit for a Dry Hydrant, makes installation of dry hydrants easier for some fire departments. (Section 1(a)7 and (b)3.).

Grants are awarded on a 50/50 reimbursement basis with the maximum grant amount being:

• $1,500 for repairs or $2,000 for a standard dry hydrant installation. The town or fire department must pay for the hydrant installation up front. They will be reimbursed up to 50%, but the federal share will not exceed either $1,500 for repairs or $2,000 for new installation. Other federal money cannot be used as a match.
• Hydrant structures that hang from a bridge are eligible but the maximum cost share rate is $400 (50/50 match, maximum $400).
• Maximum funding allowed for a cistern or manhole system is $3,000 (50/50 match, maximum $3,000).
• Difficult installations or installations that run two hydrant heads together may be eligible for a slightly higher reimbursement.

Announcements are sent out to Fire Department Contacts prior to the open application process.

Next round of applications are anticipated to be open in August 2024.

Content last updated in August 2023.