Remember the last time you saw your local water department working on fire hydrants in your neighborhood in order to flush water lines? Although this gushing, brown, flood of water may seem incredibly wasteful, in reality, it is an important routine activity necessary for maintaining the integrity of your community water system.
Generally speaking, degraded water quality is often the direct result of stagnant water which has collected in lesser-used parts of the distribution system, which is made up of a complex network of storage reservoirs and pipes. Over time, deposits and sediments can accumulate, and contribute to water quality deterioration, discoloration, odor, and taste problems if not removed.
Whenever you see your local water department or fire department flushing hydrants, there are a few things you need to be aware of in regards to your home tap water:
- If you turn on your tap water and it is discolored and/or contains sediment, turn it off immediately and wait a few minutes before turning it on again.
- Once you turn the water on again, allow it to run for several minutes so you can evaluate if it is completely clear. Be sure to let cold water run for a bit, giving the new water time to work its way through the pipes.
- If the water is still unclear, turn it off and wait a few more minutes before trying again
- You may notice slight discoloration for a few hours after flushing, but this discoloration does not affect the quality or the taste of your tap water.
Now that you understand the steps to making sure you’re tap water is drinkable after a community flushing, you should also know that this type of routine maintenance is important for your home as well. To ensure the quality of the water inside your home is excellent, your home’s water heater should be drained and flushed on a regular basis. This will help to keep it working efficiently and save you on costly repairs.
We typically advise that you follow the manufacturer’s recommendations on often your home water heater should be drained and flushed. If you have any questions regarding community hydrant flushing or are in need of assistance with flushing and draining your home heating system, contact Action Plumbing today.