Editing Fire hydrant (section)

====Preventing misuse====
To prevent casual use or misuse, the hydrant requires special tools to be opened, usually a large wrench with a [[Pentagon|pentagonal]] socket. [[Vandalism|Vandals]] sometimes cause monetary loss by wasting water when they open hydrants. Such vandalism can also reduce municipal water pressure and impair firefighters' efforts to extinguish fires. Most fire hydrants in [[Australia]] are protected by a silver-coloured cover with a red top, secured to the ground with bolts to protect the hydrant from vandalism and unauthorized use. The cover must be removed before use.

In most areas of the [[United States]], [[General contractor|contractors]] who need temporary water may purchase permits to use hydrants. The permit will generally require a [[Water meter|hydrant meter]], a [[gate valve]] and sometimes a [[Check valve|clapper valve]] (if not designed into the hydrant already) to prevent [[backflow]] into the hydrant. Additionally, residents who wish to use the hydrant to fill their in-ground [[swimming pool]] are commonly permitted to do so, provided they pay for the water and agree to allow firefighters to [[Draft (water)|draft]] from their pool in the case of an emergency.

[[Municipal services]], such as [[street sweeper]]s and tank trucks, may also be allowed to use hydrants to fill their water tanks. Often [[sanitary sewer|sewer]] maintenance trucks need water to flush out [[sewerage]] lines and fill their tanks on site from a hydrant. If necessary, the municipal workers will record the amount of water they used or use a meter.

Fire hydrants may be used to supply water to [[riot control]] vehicles. These vehicles use a high-pressure [[water cannon]] to discourage rioting.

Since fire hydrants are one of the most accessible parts of a [[water distribution system]], they are often used for attaching pressure gauges or loggers or monitor system water pressure. Automatic flushing devices are often attached to hydrants to maintain chlorination levels in areas of low usage. Hydrants are also used as an easy above-ground access point by leak detection devices to locate leaks from the sound they make.