JOHN KELLY: Why are Arlington’s fire hydrants the colors they are? – The Post
Minutia lovers will probably enjoy this Answer Man column about the color scheme of Arlington County fire hydrants.

Having read Answer Man, you are able to ascertain your whereabouts. You know that in Fairfax County, fire hydrants have a silver barrel and a red top, or bonnet. In Alexandria, they have a yellow barrel and white bonnet and outlet caps. The District has green fire hydrants. In Prince George’s and Montgomery counties, they are gray with green bonnets.

You focus your eyes and examine the hydrant. It is yellow with a pale blue top. “Aha!” you say, “I am in Arlington County.”

You would also be in Arlington County if the hydrant had a green top, orange top or red top.

A good look at something that I may not have ever occurred to me. The colors are based on how many gallons a minute will flow out of the hydrant — between 1,000 and 1,500 gpm for the one above.