Spring hydrant flushing begins April 10
If you notice a change in your water, such as taste or smell, it's a temporary measure that is part of the hydrant flushing process.
Hydrant flushing is:
•
necessary to help the City maintain its system
• ensures the City provides safe, potable water to its customers
• the EPA recommends performing hydrant flushing twice a year
What to expect:
• a slight chlorine taste and smell to the water might be noticeable during the two-week period prior to scheduled flushing
• this is normal and poses no health risk
• cloudy or discolored water, or even sediment in water, may be observed for a short period of time
• this is normal during hydrant flushing
• open faucets and let the water run to help clear this up
• water will be safe to drink during this time even if it may look different
Learn more:
Two weeks before Public Works staff begins spring or fall flush of the water system, the City switches from using chloramines to free chlorine as the main disinfectant. This brief scheduled change in disinfectant is a standard water treatment industry practice to keep the system clean and free of potentially harmful bacteria throughout the year.
Many utilities throughout the country that use chloramines as a distribution system disinfectant convert to free chlorine before water line flushing. By switching to free chlorine, the City is shocking the system, which will help with any biological matter in the water that is accustomed to the chloramine disinfectant that is routinely used.
A chloramine forms when ammonia is added to water that contains free chlorine. Warrenville has naturally occurring ammonia in all four of its well locations. The EPA accepts chloramine as a disinfectant and recognizes its ability to control TTHMs* formation.
Chloraminated water is safe for bathing, drinking, cooking, and everyday uses. By using chloramine as the disinfectant, there is less of a chlorine taste and odor in City water.
And the City substantially reduces any byproducts of the chlorine by treating at a lower dose than what would be needed for free chlorination.
*Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs): Byproduct of drinking water disinfection.