These old hydrants are the best for outside water. The shut off is 4' below the frost line. You can trench a line to the yard but it needs to start and end below the frost line or exit in a building that doesn't freeze.
They are, I had 2 on my farmstead and never any problem.
Last thing I wanted to do is have to dig it out of the ground all the time. Water lines are 8 feet deep here. Still wonder why I moved to North Dakota. :BangHead: