One water

 

Is there a No. 2 Water?

 

This "NO. 1 WATER" utility cover was seen in the street beneath our feet.  It has a horseshoe ("U") protecting the pentagon shaped bolt head, known as a "penta bolt" or "penta screw".  

 

 

One hole cover

 

 

This old utility cover is a scene in the street beneath our feet.  Its original usage is now now known.  It may have been a gas shutoff, or a water shutoff, or maybe a fill for a below ground heating oil tank?  

 

 

Water and gas

 

Circles in a rectangle

 

This GFI WATER utility cover and a GAS utility cover are highlighted for easy location of where work will most likely be done.  The blue indicates a potable water line and the yellow is for a gas.  

Green water

 

What more?

 

Dog paw prints, the pour date, more "something" impressions, a partially scratched in name, partial wipe-outs, other unidentified markings - this small concrete sidewalk slab is covered with them.  The bright green water utility cover ensures that this feat in the street beneath our feet catches the eye of the casual passer-by.

 

 

Witer water cover

 

Just WATER

 

At first glance, this WATER utility cover was read as WITER.  Closer examination of this scene beneath the feet on the street shows that the I is really a worn and one-legged A.  

 

The typography holds interest.  The counters in the letters A and R are filled in, and, the kerning seems to be "off" just slightly?

 

Two keystone waters

 

TYLER WATER water cover

 

WATER water cover

These two water utility covers share "keystone" design elements but show no definitive indications that they were both made by the same company.

The second cover shows salt crust rings around the raised portions of the cover.  Both of these were seen in the street beneath our feet.

 

Other exemplars of the "keystone" cover may be seen here and the links there. 

Water worn

 

GACCO WATER

 

This street traffic worn GACCO water valve cover was seen in the street beneath your feet.  The traffic wear highlights the mixed typography, especially the font used for the letter "R".

 

A more recent GACCO water utility cover may be seen here.

 

Blue vee

It goes that-a-way

While the blue directional arrow marking the underground utility infrastructure is fading, the paint on the "V" of the water cover remains, brightly pointing the way.

 

Water cover arches

WATER by AMETEK

Seen in the street beneath our feet, this water curb service utility box cover by Ametek features some curving design elements and a slot for a pentagon bolt. 

Covers of a similar design are produced by Maclean Highline of Fort Mill, South Carolina.  Those use the "Highline" name, switching the "water" and brand name locations.  The "Pentek" brand covers also this similar design.

  

Crossy cover

 

 

Department of Water Supply cover

 

This Department of Water Supply utility cover is seen in the street beneath our feet.  It features a 6 x 6 squares pattern that surrounds the cross formed by the letters DWS and the two vent holes.  The bright parts indicate that part of the cover is exposed to constant buffing by the rubber tires of passing vehicular traffic.

 

Water square

WATER on a diagonal

The font on this square WATER cover features some extra large serif-ing.  This water utility cover was seen in the street beneath our feet. 

Four water

Plain WATER 

Buffalo Repair Lid Water 

Mueller Water

NO 1 WATER 

Four more water utility covers:

- Plain WATER 

- Buffalo Repair Lid Water 

- Mueller Water, and

- NO 1 WATER  with the horseshoe "U" and a missing penta bolt.

Water water

Blue WATER WATER 

Rusty WATER WATER 

Having the water utility cover name appear two times on the cover makes it easy to discern the purpose of  the cover from either side of the cover.

Water inset

Generic water utility cover 

This generic water utility cover is inset in the concrete sidewalk of the street beneath our feet.

Water and bricks

The street beneath our feet was paved with bricks.  Seen amongst the bricks were these water utility access covers.

GFI WATER with horseshoe U 

WATER with two accesses 

CF-B WATER with two accesses 

TRUMBULL WATER 

These included: 

- a GFI WATER with projecting horseshoe ("U") protecting the pentagon shaped bolt head

- a plain WATER with two access cutouts

- a CF-B WATER with two access cutouts, and

- a TRUMBULL WATER with a pentagon shaped bolt head.  

That five sided bolt head (or screw head) is also called a "penta screw" or "penta bolt".

Worn water

Worn down water cover 

Seen in the street beneath our feet, this worn down water utility cover is just legible enough to tell us of its function.

Keystone water covers

RUSSCO Water cover 

Water cover 

Two variants on the "keystone" water utility cover - one by Russco and the other not marked.  The Russco cover features circular cement smoothing around the cover.  Both were seen in the street beneath our feet.  

Ford water

Star pattern meter box 

This star pattern is one of many water meter box designs and shapes made by the Ford Meter Box Company.  The company was founded in 1898 and is presently located in Wabash, Indiana. 

No 1 water

No. 1

Dappled sunlight draws our eye to this CALDWELL BOSTON NO 1 WATER utility cover that appears in the street beneath our feet.

Other cast iron Caldwell covers can be seen here (gas) and here (water).

Three sigma

Three Sigma water service boxes 

Three closely spaced SIGMA WATER curb and service boxes are seen in the street beneath our feet.  They are made by the Sigma Corporation of Cream Ridge, New Jersey.  

Sigma water utility cover 

A fourth one allows for a closer view of what is now their current VB-747 curb and service box.