WINTER SPRINGS, Fla. – As of Monday morning, the city of Winter Springs is one step closer to knowing for sure that when there’s a fire, the city’s fire hydrants will work.
News 6 uncovered last month the city’s 1,200 hydrants hadn’t been inspected in almost three years. Three hydrants failed earlier this year, one during a dryer fire. Fortunately, the failure did not impact firefighting efforts.
Since then, city leaders hired a contractor for $153,000, Carollo Engineers, to test and service every single hydrant over the next five months. That work started Monday.
Scott Richards, Carollo’s liaison with Winter Springs, said testing includes checking the flow rate of the hydrants, color-coding them to indicate the flow rate to responding firefighters, and lubricating caps and seals.
“We’re looking at the valves themselves,” Richards said. “You have a barrel so the barrel has to work properly, that it opens fully and closes and seals properly.”
Fire hydrants are supposed to be inspected every year under state law. That didn’t happen in Winter Springs.
Winter Springs Public Information Officer Matt Reeser blamed it on “employee turnover” and “inconsistent plans previously” under a previous public works director and city manager.
Reeser said the city is now back on track to inspect all hydrants yearly.
When a hydrant valve is opened, the pressure of the water in the area drops and the color of the water can change and look dirty.
Richards said if that happens in your house, run your faucet until the discoloration discontinues.
If the color doesn’t disappear, call the city’s non-emergency line at 407-327-2669.
So you know when hydrant inspectors will be in your area, the city posted a schedule on its website and will post updates on its Facebook page.
Just in case a hydrant doesn’t work when needed, the Seminole County Fire Department, which services Winter Springs, will continue trucking water tankers to every fire so there is never a shortage of water.
The backup water tanker precaution will continue until all of the hydrant testing is done and successful.
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