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F I R S TP R E V179NEXTLAST

The Golden Hydrant, The Mission
Every year on the anniversary of the 1906 earthquake and fire, residents of the Mission hold a ceremony and repaint this fire hydrant a gleaming gold. This hydrant saved the area from destruction while all the others had failed due to breaks in the water lines. Today, San Francisco's hydrants are color-coded; the small white ones are connected to City water, larger white ones are connected to high-pressure independently-operated lines. Blue top hydrants provide pressure enough for 150 feet above sea level. Red top hydrants can be use at higher elevations. When you see a green top hydrant you'll know you're standing near of one of the city's 150 underground cisterns holding 75-250 thousand gallons of water each. These cisterns are strategically placed under intersections throughout the city. Look for a circular pattern of bricks in the intersection to spot the top of the cistern.
[ MAP L-11 ]


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