By Sandy Meindersma
The Telegram & Gazette
HOLDEN, Mass. — No, the fire hydrants in town aren’t being painted to indicate support for Uruguay or Argentina in soccer’s recent World Cup tournament.
And while many of Holden’s early residents were Swedes who worked at Norton Co., the hydrants have not been painted blue and yellow in their honor.
The Department of Public Works is working to paint the hydrants to conform to the National Fire Protection Association regulations, so that the flow rate from the hydrant can be known, even before a hose is attached and the hydrant is opened.
DPW Director James Shuris said the cap and three ports on each hydrant is being painted, while the base of the hydrant remains yellow.
“There are over 1,000 hydrants in town,” Mr. Shuris said. “We just started painting four weeks ago. We’re going to do the main lines first, and then the neighborhoods.”
A blue hydrant has the highest flow rate, at more than 1,500 gallons per minute. Green hydrants have a flow between 1,000 and 1,499 gallons per minute; orange indicates a flow between 500 and 999 gallons per minute; and red is for hydrants with a flow of less than 500 gallons per minute.
Mr. Shuris said the painting project does not affect the flow rates, but simply makes it easier for firefighters to know what the water pressure is on the hydrant.
He said the DPW staff works on painting the hydrants in the afternoons after their primary responsibilities have been completed, and that the painting of the hydrants is likely to continue through the fall.
The Fire Explorers helped out with the painting for a day, and Mr. Shuris said that other organizations looking for a community service project are welcome to contact the DPW at (508) 829-0249 to schedule time to paint.
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