The City of Hillsdale Board of Public Utilities began performing its semi-annual fire hydrant flushing on April 4. It is expected to last two to three weeks, moving from the north end of the city to the south. The purpose is to make sure hydrants function and to remove debris from the waterline. A little over 300 have been flushed, with approximately 50 to go, according to Water Distribution Superintendent with the Board of Public Utilities, Bill Briggs.
“It’s turning the water over in the pipes, and it cleans the pipes. Any time you have a pipe, there will be rusty buildup, even in residential pipes,” Matt Flaugher, water sewer operator, said.
The process involves opening up pipes or running them through a flush box. They use either a five inch diffuser and two-and-a-half inch diffuser. Flaugher prefers to use the flush box and the 2.5 inch diffuser. The process typically takes about ten minutes.
“We make sure there is no residue in the water and that it’s all clear,” Flaugher said.
Briggs warned residents against doing laundry during the hours of flushing as discolored water could stain clothes. Flushing will take place between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., continuing daily between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. and between 9 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.
“If your water comes out brown, run your cold water for about two minutes, and it will clear right up,” Flaugher warns.
“We’re bringing citizens clean water and getting rust out of the lines for when they flush the toilet, use the bathtub, or run the sink,” Benton Kelley, Hillsdale Fire Department Operator said. “Once the line is flushed, there will be fully clean water.”