Sampling station and valve useful therein

A valve assembly comprising, a valve body in fluid connection with a conduit and a valve cartridge assembly adapted to be inserted into and removed from the valve body through the conduit,

• the cartridge assembly comprising a valve seat body, a valve plug body, and a threaded connection between the valve plug body and the valve seat body,
• the valve seat body forming a water-tight sliding fit with the valve body, at least a portion of the valve body and at least a portion of the valve seat body being non-circular to limit rotation of the valve seat body relative to the valve body,
• the valve plug body being freely rotatable through at least 360° and being limited in axial movement, rotation of the valve plug body moving the valve seat body into and out of a closed position blocking flow of liquid through the cartridge assembly.

A hydrant having a standpipe with an above-ground operational outlet, a subterranean valve, and a valve stem operating the valve, the valve stem extending upward from the valve through the standpipe, wherein the valve stem is hollow, the valve stem having a subterranean inlet and an above-ground flushing outlet in fluid connection with the inlet, whereby liquid can be evacuated from the standpipe and the hollow valve stem by attaching at least one of a vacuum source or a pressure source to the above-ground flushing outlet while the above-ground operational outlet is open.