Supply chain issues are slowing fire hydrant repairs and replacements in Phoenix.
Last December, Phoenix had more than a thousand fire hydrants that needed to be replaced. City staff couldn’t handle the backlog, on top of repairs and preventative maintenance they handle, so the city council hired a private contractor.
The $3.4 million deal was expected to clear a backlog of 1,033 hydrants in a year. As of May 31, the city reported 277 had been replaced.
Phoenix said its primary vendor, Mueller Water Products, is limiting shipments to 90 hydrants per month, citing manufacturing and supply chain issues. The city has been working with its other fire hydrant vendor, Ferguson, and expects to get a shipment this month.
Repairs are also piling up because parts have been out of stock. The city said orders have been processed and deliveries can take up to 16 weeks.
When the council approved hiring a contractor to address the backlog of non-working hydrants, the plan was for city employees to handle future replacements, along with the backlog of repairs and conduct preventative maintenance.
As of May 31, city crews had a backlog of 83 hydrant replacements and 1,993 repairs. The data are based on nine of 13 positions assigned to the work being filled.
In November 2021, Phoenix reported 55,143 hydrants across the city.
