Photo by Brett ThorneThanks to House Bill 1086, which was signed into law June 14, neighborhoods in Kyle and Buda received a splash of color on Sept. 4.
HB 1086 requires public utilities to paint red any hydrants that are capable of producing adequate fire flow, which is defined as 20 pounds of water per square inch. Because of a law passed in 2007, privately owned utilities such as Monarch Utilities, which provides water service to more than 1,000 customers in Hays County, had previously been able to paint hydrants black in order to free themselves from liability in the event that a hydrant did not provide fire flow.
The practice also signaled to firefighters that the hydrants might not be able to provide adequate pressure, but the hydrants have always been capable of providing adequate flow, said Gary Rose, director of operations for SouthWest Water Co., Monarch's parent company.
"Private companies did not have the same protection [as municipal governments] under the bill that was passed," Rose said. "Listening to the neighborhood, people had concerns that the hydrants couldn't adequately fight fires, and we said, 'No, that's not an issue, but it's painted black because of this liability concern.'"
