Why Are the Fire Hydrants Sporting Color Collars?

An observant resident sent us a question about the fire hydrants? He asked, “why are the fire hydrants sporting red collars? Visibility? Proof of testing? Then why is the one at the library wearing a blue collar?”

We looked around and saw that indeed fire hydrants dressed in different color rings. We reached out to Deputy Village Manager Emily Giovanni for an answer, and here is what she shared:

Those colored markers are a way for our firefighters to identify hydrant flow classifications quickly and use that information effectively during an emergency.
The colors indicate the amount of water observed during flow testing at 20 psi residual pressure:

Light Blue: More than 1,500 gallons per minute

Green: 1,000–1,499 gallons per minute

Orange: 500–999 gallons per minute

Red: Less than 500 gallons per minute

The color is simply information about the flow observed during testing; it is not an indication of the condition or quality of the hydrant. Firefighters already have access to the flow data in the field, and the markers provide a quick visual reference so crews can identify the hydrant’s classification at a glance and account for the available water supply when responding to an emergency.

If you have any additional questions about this program, feel free to reach out to Fire Chief Mytych at cmytych@scarsdale.gov.