Opening fire hydrants without sprinkler caps is wasteful and dangerous. Illegally opened hydrants can lower water pressure, which can cause problems at hospitals and other medical facilities and hinder fire-fighting by reducing the flow of water to hoses and pumps. Children can also be at serious risk, because the powerful force of an open hydrant without a sprinkler cap can push them into oncoming traffic. Call 311 to report an open hydrant.

Hydrants can be opened legally if equipped with a City-approved sprinkler cap. One illegally opened hydrant wastes up to 1,000 gallons of water per minute, while a hydrant with a sprinkler cap only puts out around 25 gallons per minute. Visit your local firehouse to have a sprinkler cap installed.