By Antonio D. French
Filed Sunday, July 30, 2006 at 8:39 PM
Labels: Photos
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10 Comments:
This is a question I've always had.
What's the legality of opening fire hydrants? Is it frowned upon without approval, or is it just one of those things that doesn't get enforced?
7/31/2006 10:30 AM
Maida Coleman's resubmitting school board member recall bill will make things hotter.
7/31/2006 10:31 AM
Completely illegal, but I'm not sure how it is enforced. Open hydrants lower water pressure in your home, can cause pressure changes in pipes that cause them to break, and cause problems for fire fighters. Plus it is a gigantic waste of our money.
7/31/2006 11:07 AM
Opening them can cause damage.
I have been told that this damage can actually affect how well they work in the future.
Basically if there is a fire, there might not be enough pressure as Matt said. The Fire Department might not be able to use them due to physical damage.
Regardless, don't open them.
7/31/2006 11:27 AM
Opening hydrants isn't great, but neither is the lack of public pools and water features in the city.
7/31/2006 11:50 AM
I know that the fire dept sometimes opens the hydrants for the kids and supervises but if they're not around when it's 104 outside and 115 inside your house and you're out of gas to go drive to an airconditioned place, I say open them.
7/31/2006 11:54 AM
There are special devices that can be put on fire hydrants to make a spray that helps kids cool off, but doesn't make water pressure too low.
Pipes break when pressure gets too low.
7/31/2006 12:31 PM
Only the Water Division, Fire department, or those who have received authorization from the City with a permit and fire hydrant key are allowed to open hydrants.
Running hydrants drastically lowers the water pressure making firefighters unable to have enough pressure if there is a fire in your neighborhood. The hydrant need not be on your block to cause problems. When hydrants are running full force, they pull water from connecting water mains, thereby lowering pressure for what can sometimes be a 5-10 block radius. Shutting hydrants down too quickly causes the pressure to reverse-hitting oncoming water causing a main break.
Children have been sucked into sewers because hydrants are usually located near a sewer. Cars have struck children when driving through intersections because they can't see them. The fire department, water department and park department have access to sprinklers that allow the kids to cool off. This is just as effective as a hydrant without the danger.
It is equally effective to play in a garden sprinkler because once you're wet, you're wet. It's the wetness that cools you off, not the pressure. Please encourage our young people to not turn on the hydrants for the reasons previous stated. If they are located near you call them in so they can be shut off. The Water departments' number is 771-4880, ext 132. They can be reached 24 hours at this number.
Many aren't aware of the dangers that can be caused by these hydrants running. Police will not arrest kids for playing in the hydrants, they will only arrest if someone identifies the indidivual who turned it on. The ordinance is against the illegal operation, not playing in the hydrant.
7/31/2006 4:28 PM
If you happen to be caucasian and enforce this ordinance you are dubbed a racist !!! It's much easier to take a hammer and destroy city property instead of putting forth the effort to find locations to cool of!!!
Norf Side
8/01/2006 11:26 AM
Great photos.
Brings back childhood memories.
8/02/2006 8:37 PM
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