MAWSS Offers Fire Hydrant Meter Rentals for Temporary Water Access in Mobile County
MAWSS rents metered fire hydrant connections to contractors and businesses across Mobile County, with a refundable $1,500 deposit, three meter sizes and strict usage rules.
Contractors, businesses and residents in Mobile County who need temporary access to water for construction, cleaning or other short-term projects can rent a metered connection directly from a fire hydrant through the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System (MAWSS). The utility’s hydrant meter rental program is designed to provide a controlled, billed source of water without requiring a permanent tap into the system.
How the Rental Program Works
To rent a hydrant meter, applicants must pay a $1,500 security deposit, which is refundable and credited back to the account once the meter is returned. A delivery and set-up fee of $100 applies if the renter requests that service rather than picking up the meter directly.
MAWSS offers hydrant meters in three sizes to match different project needs: a 5/8-inch meter with a 3/4-inch connection, a 1-inch meter with a matching 1-inch connection, and a 2-inch meter with a 2-inch connection. Renters should expect to wait 24 to 48 hours for a MAWSS representative to respond to an application.
Once issued, a hydrant meter must be returned within 90 days for maintenance and re-issuance to the next customer. Meters that are not returned within that window are considered lost, and the renter is billed for the full replacement cost of the meter assembly. The account tied to the rental remains active until all charges are paid in full. If the meter is eventually returned after that point, the account is credited back for the cost of the meter assembly only.
Water usage is billed monthly according to MAWSS’s current fee schedule, based on estimated consumption drawn through the meter.
What the Application Requires
Applicants must submit billing and general information when requesting a hydrant meter, including the company or customer name, billing address, the date the meter is needed, a contact person and phone number, and the company’s federal identification number. The application also asks for the requested meter size, the desired pickup date and time, the estimated length of use, the estimated volume of water needed each month, and the specific purpose for drawing water from the hydrant.
Use is categorized as either non-movable, meaning the water is tied to a specific property or job site, or movable, meaning the water will be transported by vehicle to variable locations. Applicants requesting a movable meter must also provide the make, model and year of the vehicle that will be used, its license tag number, and the size of its water tank.
Rules for Safe Hydrant Use
By signing the rental application, a company representative accepts responsibility for the repair or replacement cost of the fire hydrant meter assembly if it is damaged, lost or stolen, with those costs added to the final bill. The representative also confirms having read the MAWSS Fire Hydrant Use policy and agrees to comply with its terms, and certifies that the information provided accurately reflects how the water will be used.
MAWSS requires that hydrants be opened and closed slowly to prevent water hammer, a pressure surge that can damage the distribution system, and that the hydrant be opened fully before the meter is operated. A leaking hydrant should never be operated; instead, users are instructed to contact MAWSS immediately so repairs can be made before use continues. Renters are also required to notify MAWSS right away of any other problems or damage they notice involving the hydrant, and they are held liable for any damage that results from their use of it, including claims brought by third parties.
Returned meters are accepted only between 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, at the MAWSS Park Forest location.
Contacting MAWSS
The MAWSS call center is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and the utility also operates a 24-hour drive-thru and walk-up kiosk at the former Wells Fargo Bank location at Park Forest. The main office is located at MAWSS Park Forest Plaza, 4725 Moffett Road in Mobile. For water emergencies, MAWSS provides service 24 hours a day, year-round, at 251-694-3165.
The hydrant meter rental program gives builders, event organizers and other temporary water users in the Mobile area a straightforward way to access the public water system legally and safely, while helping MAWSS track usage and protect the integrity of its distribution network.