[CT Wanderer]

Everyone else addressed the OP question on the flooding but I wonder if he was told to let the water drip in freezing weather so the hose from the hydrant wouldn't freeze.
A plug in heated hose would fix that or you could put water in your fresh water tank and use the water pump. Put hose in heated storage when not filling tank and keep furnace running, not just electric heat, to keep tank and lines from freezing.