Sanitary yard hydrant

A sanitary water hydrant, comprising:

• a hydrant housing having an upper end and a lower end;
• a water valve operably disposed proximate said lower end;
• a water outlet;
• a water riser disposed within said housing for passing water between said water outlet and said water valve, said riser being selectively engagable with and disengageable from said water valve;
• said water riser being moveable within said housing in a first direction to open said water valve for passing water through said riser to said outlet, and moveable in a second direction for closing said water valve;
• a water chamber disposed proximate said distal end of said housing, said chamber operably connected to receive water from said riser when said water valve is closed;
• and
• a piston in said chamber and coupled to said riser for sliding movement with respect thereto, said piston discharging water from said chamber into said riser when said riser moves in said first direction.

A hydrant for potable water, comprising:

• a housing;
• a chamber housing coupled to a distal end of said housing such that said chamber housing may be buried a desired distance below a surface, said chamber housing defining first and second chambers;
• a valve disposed within said first chamber of said chamber housing and in fluid communication with a water supply, said valve having a closed condition, wherein flow of water from the supply is prohibited by said valve, and an open condition, wherein water from the supply may flow through said valve;
• a plunger disposed within said chamber housing and engageable with said valve to move said valve between an open condition and a closed condition;
• a riser disposed within said housing and coupled at a first end to said plunger and at a second end to an outlet of the hydrant, said riser movable within said housing to engage and disengage said plunger with said valve, whereby water may flow from the water supply to the outlet when said riser is moved to engage said plunger with said valve and whereby flow of water from the supply is shut off when said riser is moved to disengage said plunger from said valve;
• and
• a piston slidably disposed within said second chamber of said chamber housing and slidably supported on said riser, said piston having an aperture defined therethrough for receiving said plunger whereby movement of said riser to engage said plunger with said valve moves said piston in a direction toward said valve and movement of said riser to disengage said plunger from said valve moves said piston in a direction away from said valve.