The spring 2009 round of joint DC public fire hydrant inspections has begun. The DC Fire and EMS (FEMS) department has six crews inspecting hydrants throughout the city and the DC Water and Sewer Authority (DC WASA) has six crews working full-time, five days a week to make any noted repairs.

A visible change during this round of inspections is the NEW re-designed RINGS used to indicate a hydrant is "Out of Service" or "In Service-Maintenance Scheduled." Even though firefighters obtain real-time hydrant status information using the laptops in their vehicles as they are leaving the firehouse, the new rings are a back-up measure to ensure firefighters have visual cues as they approach the scene of an emergency. Both tools help them select a hydrant before the fire truck stops.

The Out of Service ring is round and RED, meaning “stop” to the firefighter because the hydrant is not available for fire suppression. The new In Service- Maintenance Scheduled tag is GREEN, shaped differently than the red rings and indicates “go” to the firefighter because the hydrant is working and available for use. If the hydrant has no minor or routine maintenance needed, it does not receive a ring. The hydrants with GREEN tags need minor maintenance, such as a gasket, lubrication or replacement of a missing chain or cap.

There are more than 9,000 public hydrants in the District. DC WASA has provided $26.5 million for the replacement/upgrade of up to 3,000 of the critical public fire hydrants on behalf of the District of Columbia government over a five-year period that began in fiscal year 2006. Through fiscal year 2008, DC WASA completed over 2,500 public hydrant replacements and upgrades. An additional $30 million has been earmarked by DC WASA for the replacement/upgrade of 5,400 hydrants.

To get information about a particular hydrant or to report a leaking or damaged hydrant, please call DC WASA at (202) 612-3400.