The Flushing of the Hydrants
What to know about this biannual event
Justin Towle (DPW) texted me yesterday to say the hydrants will begin to be flushed this coming Tuesday, October 29.
Each year in the spring and fall, the valves must be turned and the hydrants flushed “to clean the water mains and exercise the valves,” according to our water operator, Chris Pritchard. It’s an EGLE requirement to prevent the buildup of impurities in the mains and to make sure all the hydrant valves are functional.
He estimates the Village has 65 hydrants.
“It should take a week, but this is Justin’s first time. It’s a process closing and opening certain valves while flushing,” Pritchard said.
Expect to see some brown water while this is going on. Pritchard suggests waiting until the evening to wash your whites, and you might want to run your tap for a few seconds first to make sure the water is running clear.
Use the time you save not washing your whites to get out in your kayak one last time. Bob Kerby and his team will be pulling out the Penfold Park kayak launch the first week of November for the winter!
To everything there is a season. Turn, turn, flush, flush.