University of Delaware Fire Hydrants
Every year, to start the year, I find my way outside to do something. Several years running I took my boys to the Wilmington riverfront, when they had a winter outdoor skating rink. The skating rink has not been there the last few years due to weather (it has not been cold enough for outdoor ice).
Still, wanting to start the year off on an outdoor foot has led me towards a new outdoor goal: a simple hike. It used to be that my youngest would go with me. Sadly, neither he nor his older brothers are interested in enjoying the great outdoors with me, so I've found peace in going on my own.
The weather this First Day, however, is largely wet and, though I don't mind the water, I was just not interested this day in trudging through water and mud. I felt that the best course of action for today was to simply walk through the city to see if there is anything in it that I actually have not yet photographed. There isn't, it seems, so I decided to revisit an old standby subject and hunted down some fire hydrants on campus.
Look at these fellows, standing stoically on guard, always ready to answer the call when needed.
In the US, the colour of the cap of the hydrant indicates the water flow capacity of that particular hydrant:
- Red indicates a water-flow capacity of fewer than 500 gallons per minute (GPM).
- Orange indicates a water-flow capacity of 500 to 999 GPM.
- Green indicates a water-flow capacity of 1,000 to 1,499 GPM.
- Blue indicates a water-flow capacity of 1,500 or greater GPM.
(https://www1.wsrb.com/blog/is-there-meaning-behind-the-color-of-a-fire-hydrant)
Therefore, according to standards, the two red and green hydrants in the pictures above supply the same water as this yellow and green one here.
It's possible that the colour of the body of the hydrant means something as well, but not according to standards. The standards are not requirements; they are suggestions. Regardless, I rarely see any fire hydrant in the city with a blue cap, like this one growing out of the flower bed.
Of course, once I started looking for the blue capped creatures, they made themselves known.
(come to think of it, I believe I read somewhere that a red fire hydrant, in the City of Newark, is maintained by the University of Delaware, whereas the yellow ones are public)
(I am just as confident that a fire fighter wouldn't care which hydrant was used)
(c) All images and photographs, unless otherwise specified, are created and owned by me.
(c) Victor Wiebe
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I love seeing fire hydrants, here in the UK they are underground so we don't have them likes yours with their pretty colours visible to all and sundry.
Thanks! My fascination started when I took the boys out for an extended weekend and they would not let me take photo's of them. I decided I'd take photos of the fire hydrants instead, since they wouldn't complain.
You have great stand-by pieces of photography. I guess I didn't realize that they have different levels of pressure and that the legend is in the paint color.
What about the ones here? They are yellow and now I have to wonder if they have different meanings from State to State?
Happy New Year, plus one!
Standard colours do make sense, but they are just standards. There's nothing to enforce it, and localities are free to do whatever they want. I've come across some really interesting colour hydrants, I assure you. 😄
Agreed. It is quite adventurous on their part. :) I first started seeing different ones during the bicentennial years ago... or at least that is when I first noticed them.
I did not know that they had different capacities like that, it's a great way to make it easy to tell them apart but it's also nice and fun. You can see them a freaking mile off.
This year I plan on losing some weight and trying to get some of my fitness back so I'll also be going for walks regularly and hopefully I'll be able to start running again as well although I'm not sure if my knees and ankles are going to be that keen.
Hah, yeah, they're definitely easily visible.
I'm not too keen on running, either, for similar reasons. I've personally found bike riding to be a lot easier. Maybe a bicycle would help!
Cycling is much better on the joints, I know of a few people that transitioned and never looked back. Apparently swimming is excellent as a substitute but both of these options don't have as many opportunities for rad photos like yours.
That is a very cool idea for a collection - it's always the little things that make good art!
Thank you! And yes, I agree. I've got quite a collection!
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That’s awesome man I learned something new with this one lol thanks! I will now keep an eye out for them and what they mean!
Ah unfortunate that the boys don’t want to go outside! Missing out for sure! Lol but I get it. I do wish I could go back and offer a bit more outdoor time with my dad but can’t go back sadly.