Monday, March 05, 2007

FIRE HYDRANT WATER FLOW TESTS: Monday, 5 March 2007 - Friday, 16 March 2007


"GREEN" FIRE HYDRANT
GREEN signifies a water flow rate of 1,000 - 1,499 gallons per minute (gpm)
S/s Mt. View Av. & 8th Av.

Of a total of 201 fire hydrants in Carmel-by-the-Sea, the Carmel Fire Department and California American Water Company (Cal Am) have water flow tested approximately 110 fire hydrants; some or all of the remaining 91 fire hydrants wil be water flow tested beginning Monday, 5 March 2007 and ending Friday, 16 March 2007.

The water flow tests will measure the flow rate based on the size of the fire hydants and the water mains. Based on the results, the fire hydrants are color coded with paint and a reflective strap, indicating the water flow rate. For example, "LIGHT BLUE" is equivalent to 1,500 gallons per minute (gpm) or more, "GREEN" is equivalent to 1,000 - 1,499 gpm, "ORANGE" is equivalent to 500 - 999 gpm and "RED" is equivalent to less than 500 gpm. The color coding provides firefighers with immediate visual water flow information to aid them in fighting fires, et cetera.

For more information, contact Cal Am 1-888-237-1333 or the Carmel Fire Department (831) 620-2030.

Reference: The Carmel Pine Cone, "More hydrant flow tests on tap," March 2, 2007, page 31A.

For information about water and hydrant systems, including color codes and markings, click on title post above, or http://www.firehydrant.org/info/index.html
Information on Flow Testing Hydrant Procedures, go to http://www.firehydrant.org/info/ftest1.html.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Interestingly, under Hydrant Design, from the above referenced article, each individual fire hydrant should deliver no less than 1000 gpm in residential areas and more in commercial areas. That's Green and Light Blue hyrants, no Orange or Red hydrants.