Accessibility Guidebook for Outdoor Recreation and Trails

Water Hydrants

Water hydrants, including water faucets on posts and handpumps are the outdoor devices from which people obtain drinking water. The opening where the water discharges is called a water spout. Locate water spouts between 28 inches (710 millimeters) and 36 inches (915 millimeters) above the ground or floor surface on the edge of a clear space that is at least 72 inches (1,830 millimeters) by 48 inches (1,220 millimeters). This clear space must be located with its long side adjoining (and may overlap) an outdoor recreation access route, trail, beach access route, or another clear ground space. This permits a forward or parallel approach to the water spout and allows enough room for someone in a wheelchair to turn around and leave. Locate water spouts 11 inches (280 Applying the Forest Service Outdoor Recreation Accessibility Guidelines 68 Constructed Features in Recreation Sites millimeters) [sic] minimum and 12 inches (305 millimeters) maximum from the rear center of the long side of the clear space. The requirements for the surface and slope of the clear space are the same as for other utilities.

If the water hydrant is an unusual design with the handle and spout on different sides of the post, be sure that people can access both sides. In addition, if drainage grates are provided, ensure that the openings in the grates comply with the outdoor recreation access route provision for openings. Figure 101 illustrates these requirements.

Figure 101—The requirements for water hydrants.

Standard handpumps require a force greater than 5 pounds (2.2 newtons) and a long reach to operate. Until handpumps that meet the accessibility standard for operating controls while adequately accessing the water supply are available from more than one source, handpumps are exempt from the requirements for reach ranges and operability in ABAAS, sections 308 and 309.4.

The Forest Service's technology and development program has produced an accessible handpump that can be used when a well is 40 feet (12 meters) deep or less. This pump should be considered for new or replacement shallow well installations when the accessible pump meets the technical specifications for the water supply. A deeper well pump is under development. Information about the commercially manufactured accessible handpumps (figure 102) is available on the Forest Service's internal computer network at http://fsweb.mtdc.wo.fs.fed.us/programs/eng/handpump.htm or on the World Wide Web at http://www.fs.fed.us/recreation/programs/accessibility.

Figure 102—An accessible handpump developed by the Missoula Technology and Development Center.

Clean water tests, energy efficiency, and accessibility compliance can be achieved at most locations using solar powered pumps. The Superior National Forest in northern Minnesota (see figure 18) and the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest in eastern Washington (figure 103) are among the forests that have successfully used solar pump systems for a number of years in campgrounds and picnic areas of all sizes. The water spout control for solar pumps easily can be designed to require 5 pounds (2.2 newtons) of pressure or less using one closed fist (figure 104) to provide a sustainable flow of accessible water.

Figure 103—Solar water pumps and batteries can be housed in small pedestal enclosures and powered by solar panels on an adjacent pole.

Figure 104—A solar pump provides pressure for this water spigot. A camper uses accessible controls to fill his coffee pot.