Which is a characteristic of "dead end mains" when referring to hydrants?

A characteristic of "dead end mains" when referring to hydrants is that they contain higher amounts of sediment and deterioration. This occurs because dead end mains do not have continuous flow; water can remain stagnant for longer periods of time. Stagnation can lead to sediment settling at the bottom of the pipe as there is no regular flushing or flow to carry it away. Additionally, the lack of flow can contribute to the deterioration of the pipe material over time due to corrosion or other factors since new, fresher water that could help mitigate these issues is not replenishing the water in these mains.

In contrast, mains that receive supply from several directions are often referred to as looped systems, which help promote better water flow and reduce the risks of sediment accumulation. Mains with greater water pressure do not inherently correlate with dead end conditions and instead rely on system design and operation. Smaller amounts of sedimentation and deterioration are typically associated with well-maintained, actively flushed mains rather than ones that are dead-ended.