Suggestion so far is that it is some sort of air release. It is near a high point in the general topography. But I figure that a simple air release wouldn't have to stick 4 feet out of the ground in someone's front yard. Must be more to it?
Noting the hole cover in the middle of the street and the (apparent) clean-out (valve?) cover between there and the unknown, air release/ vacuum relief seems reasonable.
Did anyone pop the cap off the hole and look?
> Did anyone pop the cap off the hole and look?
In this season, in this part of the world, there will be a riser pipe full to the neck with rainwater under that water valve cap.
10-4. If it's high ground water then an offset riser for ar/ av (the unidentified bollard) is strengthened.
In drier areas, I see the ar/ av tapped directly from the top of the pressure pipe and vented into the manhole.
If it's below water table, snorkeled to the top for air transfer.
In cases of above surface interference (power lines or, in this case roads), makes sense to lateral out of the travel way and snorkel above grade.
It's still a guess, but further makes sense to make it bollard-like to protect from errant vehicles. Could have used a hollow fireplug with breakaway riser but, that would have played devil with the local FD.
If it's a sewer forcemain in the manhole, tell the chief he needs to babysit the bollard until he hears something (smell is more likely). If it's ar, it won't take a few seconds to be sure.
See how fast that task gets delegated 😛
Obviously it's an Instrument Pedestal 🙂 JK
What is the treatment at the top? Is it open, capped, or filled with concrete? Air release sites that I have seen come out of the ground and make a full bend back toward the ground to avoid being filled during rain. Also I have never seen one that close to the road.If is open at the top, it could be a vent for a casing where the top has been removed or knocked off. The crack in the pavement from the manhole to the mystery structure is interesting.
And they come in various heights, too!
Water main sampling station? Although the ones we have around here have a lock on them and I don't recall that they are vented but they are about the right size.
Looks like possibly some sort of hammer arrester.
Why don't you call the water purveyor and ask them?
Because of the perforations on each side, I am going with it being a riser for possible water level and venting for drainage.
The manhole cover also appears to be vented or that can just be die markings.
Around here they will simply offset the manhole and have it sticking 5 feet out of the ground. They are not vented and the manhole still blows off filling yards with some surprise sewage.
Kinda looks like an LED bollard. B-)
> What is the treatment at the top? Is it open, capped, or filled with concrete?
Its a hollow pipe, with open holes in it, apparently to allow airflow.
> Water main sampling station? Although the ones we have around here have a lock on them and I don't recall that they are vented but they are about the right size.
There is no ready access to the inside of this riser.
Put Some White Stripes On Ground And Make A OneCall
You'll find out soon enough.
Paul in PA
> Why don't you call the water purveyor and ask them?
I may do that, but first I'd like to assure myself that it is a water facility. Could be something to do with natural gas, too. Water and gas frequently run in the same trench.
OneCall
> You'll find out soon enough.
My faith in one-call is rather limited. If it can't be identified by the finest surveying minds on earth the lowest common denominator on a random utility crew isn't likely to help much.
Seems like it should be color coded if it has to do with any type of utility, which it appears it must. Anything colored inside the perforations that you can see?
I've never seen one exactly like that
but my first guess would be some type of vent. If it is on a relative high point on a water main then maybe air release. Is there a casing underneath the road? If so it may be a casing vent, even though the ones I have seen always had full 180 to a flange and insect screen on it.
Andy
Municipal air freshener dispenser. It's how they get that clean evergreeny scent that the PNW is know for. 😀
Probably a PRV (pressure relief valve) for a water main.
Around here they're just a 180 fitting on the end of the riser pipe fitted with a screen. It took me a little looking to find a city that used the "perforated" housing. This detail is from Scottsdale, Az.
