Report Problem
Translate
Worked at Louisville Water since 2005
Chances are you drive by at least one every day, but don’t realize it or give it much thought. It’s a crucial firefighting tool that could help save lives.
“I want to make sure that it’s good around my house, around my parents’ house, around your house.”
Louisville Water Plumber Leader’s Assistant Scott Corbin is talking about fire hydrants. He’s part of the company’s hydrant crew. Many people probably assume it’s the fire departments that maintain them. It’s actually Louisville Water who tests, services, and repairs more than 24,000 fire hydrants in Jefferson County along with parts of Bullitt and Oldham counties.
“Our first priority is out-of-service fire hydrants. I mean a fire department can’t hook to it. We cannot produce the water that a hydrant would need to put out a fire,” Corbin explained.
Coming to Louisville Water as a former tool and dye maker in 2005, Corbin learned a whole new set of skills. He eventually landed with the hydrant crew, where he’s passionate about his job.
“I enjoy the mental aspect of coming up to a hydrant not knowing what it is, what’s going on with it, and being able to break it down and fix it,” he said. “It could take 45 minutes to fix and then the next one might take four hours.”
Corbin works side by side with Plumber Leader Chris Meeks. While the pair used to run plays on the football field together in 8th grade, now they’re turning wrenches to keep fire hydrants in service and your families safe.
“I always pay attention now when I’m driving down the road to see where it (a hydrant) has a missing cap or the head’s missing.”
If the damage is beyond repair, they end up inside a Louisville Water garage.
“Whoever digs it up, they bring the hydrant back. Then Chris and I will recycle them so that we can use parts or the top of the head to put back on whenever a hydrant has been stolen,” Corbin said. He quickly reassured that, “We always make sure there’s an operating hydrant close by. We never just leave a hydrant out (of service).”
Corbin isn’t planning on retiring anytime soon and looks forward to building on the long history between Louisville Water and our local fire departments.
“We need each other. We can’t touch every hydrant every day.”
Louisville Water relies on its employees, fire departments, and the public to report hydrant issues.
When Corbin isn’t working, he enjoys spending time with his family. Married to his high school sweetheart, the couple will celebrate 25 years of marriage in December and have two sons.
National Fire Prevention Week is October 8-14, 2023.
Learn more about Louisville Water’s relationship with Louisville Fire & Rescue
