What are they doing to that fire hydrant?

Fire hydrants are one of the most important tools firefighters utilize during fire fighting operations.  It is imperative that they are well maintained by semi-annual inspections.  During these inspections, crews will be performing the following checks:

Verify location Check for obstructions Proper height above grade Orientation to roadway Any damage from vehicle strikes Operating nut in good condition Missing caps 360° clearance radius of 36" Remove any chains Flush hydrant* Check for leaking

Once the hydrant passes inspection, the top operating nut will be painted orange (paint color will change with each inspection cycle) and the nearby water valve may be painted blue as well for easy identification.  If the hydrant fails inspection for any reason crews will place an "out of service" or "OOS" tag on it and repairs will be facilitated.  If the hydrant near you is in fact "OOS", you can be rest assured a working hydrant is nearby.

Q: Why would my water be discolored?

A: The water may become discolored in an area due to emergency situations such as a fire or water main break. During these events the flow in the water system is increased which may cause minerals which have accumulated in the pipes to become dislodged. One of the minerals is iron which causes the water to appear yellow to dark brown. If this should happen, give the water system time to settle down, check the water every half hour by running some in the bath tub. If it still appears to be discolored do not use it to wash laundry. If you were doing laundry when the water became discolored - Do Not Dry the laundry - leave it wet and purchase a product such as Iron-Out or Rust-Out in the laundry section of the grocery store.

Source:  Montgomery County Ohio Water Department

If you have any question regarding City of Kettering fire hydrants, please call Kettering Fire Headquarters