DCist: WASA Begs Residents to Stop Opening Hydrants

Stanton Park

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:10:37 -0500

And fire hydrants are opened up in cities all over the country, not just in D.C. And if all the other kids jumped off a bridge, would you do it too? While it would be nice if WASA could put spray heads on some hydrants in hot weather, not all areas of town have adequate supply pressure to do this. While it is unlikely a house will burn down while a hydrant is open (given the small number of houses that burn down), opening hydrants can cut off water and lead to water quality problems in nearby homes and businesses. In addition, for those of you outside the combined sewer area, open hydrants can dump thousands of gallons of stolen, chlorinated water directly into storm sewers that discharge that water, untreated, into local waterways. Chlorinated water is toxic to most marine life. I am surprised that WASA hasn't put locks on hydrants that are chronically opened. I would guess there is some bureaucratic argument between WASA and the fire department about who has to pay for the hydrant wrenches.

adamsmorgan

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 10:38:15 -0500

Uh McCullo3...part of the problem with the fireworks ban (besides the fact that it was introduced as "emergency" legislation and therefore didn't allow for public hearings) was that it went overboard. Banning sparklers? Really? When was the last time a sparkler kept you from getting a good night sleep...sheesh... And fire hydrants are opened up in cities all over the country, not just in D.C.

monkeyrotica

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 08:21:35 -0500

As noted watersports enthusiast Herman Goerring once quipped, "When I hear the word 'culture' I reach for my gun." Oh, snap! I'm not allowed to have one!

mccullo3

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 21:51:41 -0500

You all have your panties in a knot! Hell it's just part of the "culture" around here. Don't enforce dangerous projectile fireworks laws because it's "part of the culture" that way you can light some some poor residents house on fire... then make sure you double park your cars so the firetrucks can't pass( because dammit we were here 1st!)... then to top it off open the hydrants so when the fire trucks eventually get there they won't have any water. Absolutely priceless... but hey "We got culture here in DC" Can't you tell?

adamsmorgan

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:36:03 -0500

Monkey...have always enjoyed your posts, but now I might be a little bit in love since you mentioned Wangdoodles...single-handedly one of the best.books.ever.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 16:02:41 -0500

And viz the American Apparel model in the yellow swimsuit, it's about time they hired more porn stars. Yeah, I'll open the hydrant...IN MY PANTS!

IMGoph

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:23:43 -0500

registrationsucks: that's why i live on the bloomingdale side of the trench, not the eckington side.

registrationsucks

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:15:50 -0500

The streets in NW are paved in solid gold, and the curb is studded in diamonds! Thats why its way nicer to drive south on North Capitol Street than north on North Capitol Street.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 15:12:35 -0500

Morlocks and Oompah Loompahs are not "races," they're species to be enslaved and used as trebuchet fodder in our Holy War against the CHUDs. If I do not return from the sewers, if there is to be treachery, let there be jihad. Let the streets run red with the blood of the infidels. We shall all eat lamb in Paradise.

Everett

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:55:53 -0500

OMG, Hillman, you were a fireman? I bet that made you popular at Titan! ;) Meanwhile, color me shocked that a story about some people misbehaving in DC has spiralled down into racist baiting...

monkeyrotica

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:39:10 -0500

Hey, I think I still have a copy of "Morlocks in Heat." I got it at a 2-4-1 dvd clearance sale along with "Itsby Bitsy Gang Bang." Nothing takes the edge off of a steaming day of hydrant hacking quite like subterranean albino midget porn.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:35:04 -0500

You just don't get this sort of behavior from rich, educated, orange Oompah Loompahs in NW. And yet their tax dollars go to subsidize this antisocial Wangdoodle behavior. I'm voting Ron Paul.

Hillman

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:34:51 -0500

Speaking as a former fireman, I can tell you that people opening hydrants is a serious matter. It really can mean that houses burn down, people die, etc. In many areas water pressure is piss poor to begin with, and all it takes is an open hydrant somewhere to take the water pressure down to the point where you have better luck just pissing in the general direction of the fire. Anybody that thinks it's cute and harmless to open hydrants is a fucking moron.

Hillman

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:32:38 -0500

Actually, the most precious resources are love and children. You know, all about the children..... But apparently not actually loving on the children.

Politburo

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:31:27 -0500

imgoph based on gothamist, where there are several trolls like welles, there is no chance of a ban. Plus, banning trolls typically only strengthens their resolve.

OldPosterKnownAsCranky

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:26:18 -0500

Morlocks in heat - never a good thing. You don't want to be around to see what happens. And you really don't want to be around Morlock gang initiations. Three words: claws, goats, and chupacabras.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:19:13 -0500

I don't see why we're blaming kids for what is obviously vandalism caused by irate, overheated morlocks.

IMGoph

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:15:08 -0500

(i know i'm feeding a troll here, folks...sorries) welles: your initial sweeping generalization was geographic in nature, and now it's racial. sure, you can always be right when you change the rules as you go along. any chance we can get this douche banned, a la "he who shall not be named"?

welles

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:11:05 -0500

You stereotypical fuck! Now all white kids are being driven around in SUVs! There really is no answer to that kind of idiotic, one-note thinking.

mellbell

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 14:03:41 -0500

Politburo: Yes! I'd change my icon, but I'm pretty sure I had it first.

DC1974

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:36:02 -0500

Of course, the White Kids are being driven two blocks in an SUV that gets 12 miles to the gallon so they can have indoor/air conditioned tennis lessons. But damn those poor kids for spilling the precious seed of water! It's like they are masturbating or something! Which I suppose is far better than procreating as its quite clear we have plenty of poors as it is. As well as uneducated idiots to comment on blogs.

OldPosterKnownAsCranky

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:23:03 -0500

The most precious resource.......is love. Quick, someone get me the number for Hallmark! I've got gold here in them thar words!

welles

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:18:56 -0500

>Last time I checked, Georgia Avenue, Petworth, Ledroit Park, Columbia Heights, were all in Northwest. I've seen spilling hydrants in those neighborhoods every summer. Naturally, when I - or anybody else for that matter - we do not mean Petworth or any other demilitarized zone. And sweeping generalisations are perfectly fine when, you know, they just happen to be true -- rich, educated white children are not out in the streets wasting that most precious of resources.

Politburo

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:18:02 -0500

imgoph, welles is a known troll (there is a poster with a similar icon who is legit.. mellbell, iirc)

adamsmorgan

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:10:18 -0500

The suggestion that the kids use the pools and spray parks is admirable, but if you look at the list, only two of the pools are in SE and none of the spray parks (where you report most of the problems are happening).... Once again, like so many other things in our fair city, other cities have learned and found ways to deal with this (regulated openings). As for the Welles poster, surely it just someone trying to be a rabble rouser because i cannot believe that anyone is actually that stupid.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:10:10 -0500

Last time I checked, Georgia Avenue, Petworth, Ledroit Park, Columbia Heights, were all in Northwest. I've seen spilling hydrants in those neighborhoods every summer. Maybe the Foggy Bottom crowd isn't down with opening hydrants. But that's only because their wetnurses would thrash them for getting their monocles and spats wet. Then again, they can afford their own hired whipping boys.

Lionel M Hutz

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:04:53 -0500

I think it's great that this is happening in SE. Increases the likelihood that buildings burn down, then we can replace them with a nice condo and a Starbucks at ground level retail!

IMGoph

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:56:17 -0500

welles: honestly, who the hell are you, and where do you get off with your broad, stupid generalizations? northwest. ha. do you know how big "northwest" is? do you know that it extend to cover areas east of the park? did you know that sursum corda and park morton are both in "northwest". it isn't all bucolic polo grounds and happy white folk here in "northwest". gah....sorry, your comment just reeks of dumb.

mommyworks

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:52:11 -0500

Why not issue hydrant sprinklers like they have in Philadelphia? The hydrants in Philadelphia also have special locks on the top that require a unique wrench not available at your local hardware emporium. For the most part over the last 30 some years they have done a good job keeping the wrenches in the hands of the sewer authority and the fire department. A few unauthorized people might have acquired them but that happens. Here in DC any fool with a big wrench can open a hydrant. Simple solutions that would keep the kids cool and the use of water under control. It works pretty well.

welles

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 12:21:18 -0500

This sort of behavior does not happen in NW. Crime runs rampant in the other quadrants, and by the looks of it the kids start early...

IMGoph

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:50:40 -0500

dude: if you can get the law to be enforced in the city, you deserve to be the person on the quarter. screw douglass, ellington, and banneker...

monkeyrotica

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:38:45 -0500

You'd figure WASA and the fire department would use some advanced alien technology like padlocks that only they have the key to. But that's about as likely to happen as the President pronouncing the world "nuclear" correctly. HI-YOOOOOO!

McGillicuddy

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:32:32 -0500

amen, Dude. amen. my feelings exactly.

DudeLooksLikeALady

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:18:37 -0500

This seems to fall in the same category as illegal Sunday double-parking. As in: it's a technically a crime, but people have been doing it for so long the police won't enforce the law. I don't know if it's Fenty, or Lanier, or somebody else, but I really wish this city would get off its collective ass and enforce the law when it is broken. I'd also like a million dollars, in cash, delivered to my front door. Which is about as likely as seeing the cops do their jobs....

OldPosterKnownAsCranky

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:16:09 -0500

@DC1974: The issue from WASA's perspective is that open hydrants kills water pressure to residents. If you live next to a hydrant that's been opened, you'll have minimal - if any - water pressure in your house. And when you do get water pressure, you'll get nice rusty-colored water coming out your pipes for a while [insert Monkey story here]. So I don't think WASA is being a killjoy for this. All they need is a fire occurring nearby and DCFD having no water pressure for its hoses. But aren't there some caps that can go on hydrants that will allow spray to come out, but not at full blast? I recall the NYFD had some of those they would install on some hydrants in summertime to deal with this same issue.

DC1974

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 11:08:04 -0500

In Chicago, where I grew up. The fire department would come around and open the fire hydrants to cool of kids. Keep people cool is pretty good way, or so the theory went, to lower crime. And since there aren't pools on every block (don't I wish!) it is much easier to keep track of your children at the corner playing in the fire hydrant spray than trekking to the pool. Considering that WASA can't seem to even get all the hydrants in this city in working order, perhaps they should be happy that there are kids out there willing to test hydrants for them. And stop being such killjoys.

IMGoph

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:56:51 -0500

ghettoburbs: damnitall, when will you learn that we don't prosecute petty crime in this city! especially when someone calls in to complain about things. except when we do. doesn't that make sense?!?

OldPosterKnownAsCranky

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:55:55 -0500

WASA should replace the water in the hydrants with lava. Problem solved.

GhettoBurbs

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:46:59 -0500

Oh, and if WASA is so concerned about open hydrants, maybe they (or the police) should do something when residents tell them about open hydrants. I've called WASA, 311, and 911 to report punk-ass kids and their parents opening fire hydrants, only to be told "don't call us if it's not an emergency." Hello? It's an emergency if the fire department doesn't have enough water pressure to fight a fire. Plus, the hydrant that keeps getting opened is one block from the police station! Get off your ass and walk 200 feet down the street and arrest the woman who opened the hydrant. You know, the one with the big fucking wrench in her hand!

Politburo

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:44:45 -0500

A vehicle jack is usually just the right size to hammer down on top of the hydrant to operate the valve.

GhettoBurbs

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:38:53 -0500

The water from the hydrants is much cleaner than the water in the Potomac. The water from the hydrants is water from the Potomac. Granted, it's been filtered, leaded, fluoridated, and chlorinated, but it's still grade-A Cumberland piss.

zippy

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:29:37 -0500

The water from the hydrants is much cleaner than the water in the Potomac. ))))))))(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((( By golly if residents want to spray themselves down with lead soaked, e-coli farmed, corpse of the week rotting water, then by all means open them hydrants.

monkeyrotica

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:28:09 -0500

Young authority, in this household, we use a little word called "please." Now, repeat after me: "Pretty please with sugar on top, can you stop opening the hydrants?" The sugar is also cursed.

IMGoph

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:28:05 -0500

once a house burns down, the same people who opened the hydrants will bitch that the city didn't do enough to save the house from the fire. and life will go on.

Urban_Architect

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:27:24 -0500

WASA should camp out on my street, b/c every other minute the hydrants are opened...shoot, on saturday they opened it, WASA closed it, and then by nightfall it was open again.

Everett

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:25:23 -0500

The water from the hydrants is much cleaner than the water in the Potomac.

McGillicuddy

Tue, 10 Jun 2008 10:18:55 -0500

how are these people opening up the hydrants? do they have a massive wrench or are they just running them over with their Escalades? if getting wet is what they want, i'd be happy to help monkey launch them into the Potomac with a trebuchet.