Tip - Guerrilla artists' hydrant painting poses risk to S.F.

Guerrilla painters' mischief poses a danger to the city - first responders need to see color coding, ID markings Artists to some, vandals to others, they've taken it upon themselves to spray-paint dozens of hydrants around the city. [...] while the average resident may see the silver, neon green and red hydrants as guerrilla art, officials say the actions are causing a dangerous problem. San Francisco has two separate water systems: its domestic water system that we all drink from and its emergency supply, a high-pressure system used exclusively for firefighting, built after the 1906 earthquake and fire leveled much of the city. Both types have identification numbers and tags stamped and painted on them to give firefighters information about water pressure, the water main the hydrant is connected to, and the distance to a shutoff valve. When a fire breaks out or a car runs into a hydrant, first responders can lose precious time if that information isn't immediately available because someone painted over it, said Bill Gunn, a supervisor of the emergency water supply system unit at the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. To fix the smaller hydrants, SFPUC workers must shut off the water main, remove the hydrant and bring it back to their shop, where it is sanded down, restamped and repainted.