ICBC will be footing the bill for a on 40 Avenue that saw an SUV sever a fire hydrant and send a torrent of water gushing into the street.
Roeland Zwaag, the Township Public Works director, said the cost of repairing a severed fire hydrant usually runs around $3,000, but crews were able to keep costs to about $500.
鈥淲e were quite fortunate to be able to complete a repair using spare parts the Township keeps on hand,鈥� Zwaag said.
鈥淸So] there was no need to excavate or replace the entire fire hydrant.鈥�
He added the hydrant on 40 Avenue near 200 Street was an older 鈥榮lide gate鈥� type, which allows a large volume of water to escape when severed.
Zwaage said newer hydrants are of a 鈥榗ompression鈥� design that has a puck at the base to keeps the hydrant sealed by water pressure if it gets hit.
Zwaag said accidents involving vehicles and fire hydrants were 鈥渋nfrequent鈥� but when they occur, the Township routinely files a claim with the auto insurer.
No serious injuries were reported in the crash last Thursday morning (Sept. 18), around 8 a.m.
