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Escanaba to flush fire hydrants

ESCANABA — The Escanaba Water Department will begin flushing fire hydrants throughout the City on Aug. 10 through the end of the month. This is normal water system maintenance, which has never been completed to this scale in the city. This work will be conducted from 7:30 a.m. to around midnight each day.

This program is a necessary maintenance function in which sediment is expelled from the distribution system by opening fire hydrants, allowing them to flow until the water appears clear.

Hydrants are flushed for several reasons:

– Even the best quality of water can get stale if not used enough. By flushing, the water supply remains fresh;

– Flushing helps maintain the water quality in the water mains by removing fine sediment from the water supply which has settled in the water main over time;

– Flushing also reduces additional demand for chlorine;

– This helps the city to determine if a fire hydrant is in good working condition, or if it may need service.

Fire hydrant flushing is preventative maintenance. There may be a temporary drop in water pressure during testing periods. Occasionally, water becomes discolored after hydrant flushing. City personnel will do everything in their power to keep these conditions to a minimum. They recommend flushing your water until it turns clear prior to drinking it or using it for cooking.

If you notice discolored water, run the cold water tap for a few minutes until the water clears. If it does not clear the first time, wait a few minutes and run the water again. If the water has not cleared after several hours, call the water plant. You should avoid washing clothes until the water clears.

City workers plan to focus this work in residential areas, with hopes to avoid any of these disruptions in the commercial districts.

For any questions or concerns contact the Escanaba Water Department at 786-3291.

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