The City of Durango and the Durango Fire Protection District will start required fire hydrant flow testing on April 20 within city limits and throughout the fire district, according to an announcement on April 19.
The testing is mandated by the Insurance Services Office, a third-party organization whose ratings help determine insurance premiums for residents and businesses in the area. The effort aims to verify water availability, pressure, and system reliability for emergency response while supporting favorable insurance outcomes.
Testing will continue through April 22. Of nearly 2,000 hydrants across the district, 21 within Durango city limits have been selected for evaluation. Each test lasts about 30 seconds and uses between 500-1,000 gallons of water. DFPD Chief Randy Black said crews from both agencies are working together to minimize water use while meeting data requirements: “The goal is to keep the water flow to a minimum,” Black said. “Accurate measurements require briefly flowing the hydrants, and we’re committed to doing that as efficiently and responsibly as possible.”
Officials emphasized that this process is different from hydrant flushing; flow testing measures pressure and capacity over a short period while flushing is a longer process used for cleaning lines.
The notice comes after Stage 1 mandatory drought restrictions were enacted by the city on April 10 due to record-low snowpack, early runoff, and minimal precipitation creating critical water shortages. The city reports using approximately 2.5 million gallons per day at this time of year but says it has coordinated with DFPD to ensure only necessary amounts are used during testing.
Residents may see personnel operating hydrants around town during these dates. The city encourages public feedback through its Engage Durango page or Contact Us form.
