What does an orange hydrant indicate regarding water flow rate?

An orange hydrant indicates a water flow rate of 500 to 999 gallons per minute (gpm). This color coding is part of a system used by many fire departments to quickly assess the water supply capabilities of a hydrant. Firefighters rely on these color codes to gauge the availability and adequacy of water flow for firefighting operations. Knowing that an orange hydrant can provide between 500 and 999 gpm helps firefighters determine how to strategize their response and the type of equipment needed. Hydrants are painted different colors to represent varying flow ranges, and orange specifically signals that while the flow rate is somewhat limited compared to higher flow hydrants, it is still adequate for many firefighting scenarios.