Guidelines for Dry Hydrant Cost-Share

Requirements for cost-share are:

1. Requests for dry hydrant cost-shares must come from county government, VFD, firefighters association, or Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D).
2. The VFD and firefighters association must be chartered and have a tax-exempt identification number.
3. County government, VFD or a firefighters association will make formal application for cost-share assistance in purchasing one set of dry hydrant components for each eligible department listed on the application.
4. Fire department must be from communities of less than 10,000 population.
5. The Texas Forest Service (TFS) will evaluate the applications for eligibility and priority.
6. The county or association will be notified in writing when the request is approved. Following notification, the county or association may purchase the dry hydrant components.

Responsibilities of the county or firefighters association:

1. Locate and purchase dry hydrant components within 70 days following notification of approval.
2. Provide TFS with a copy of all vendor invoices and evidence of payments.
3. The receiving fire departments will assume responsibility for payment for the installation, maintenance and upkeep of the hydrant, along with any charges for materials above the allotted $800 cost-share. Installation will be considered the fire department's matching contribution for the cost-share program.
4. A water usage agreement should be signed by each landowner that provides a water source.
5. The TFS will then issue a check for the dry hydrant components and materials not to exceed $800 per dry hydrant. Checks will be made to the county or association.
6. Must file a permit Exemption Form with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) within 90 days of installing a dry hydrant.