Besides, it gives the kids something to do so they'll be a little less likely to throw rocks through windows.
I think it's simply a problem of education. I'm sure that most kids (and certainly the adults who do it) just aren't aware that it's a dangerous thing to do. They undoubtedly see it as completely harmless to set off a hydrant to cool off the kids - just bit of fun. How can spraying water around be dangerous?
As an example of that, Stuart and his colleagues are regularly verbally abused and threatened with physical violence by the parents of the kids when they turn up to turn off a spraying hydrant - for 'spoiling the kid's fun'.
Local councils and authorities need to do more to educate people in the areas where this is rife as to just what problems it can cause - to them, perhaps, if their home goes on fire and the water pressure in their area is down. And wouldn't that be ironic?
LabRat
