by: Roger Warehime, Director, Operations, Energy Management & External Relations
It will soon be time for our annual water main flushing. Our crews will flush the water mains throughout Owatonna to break loose normal mineral build-up inside underground mains. Crews flush water mains by opening fire hydrants, so don’t be alarmed if you see water gushing from hydrants while an OPU truck is nearby. Although the final result is improved water color and taste, this housekeeping procedure can temporarily discolor water.
When we flush the mains, we increase the flow to create a scouring action inside the water mains that breaks loose any mineral build-up and iron sediment from the water main. Unfortunately, loose iron particles can give water a yellow or orange color. Iron naturally occurs in groundwater, and it isn’t harmful to your health; however, rusty colored water can stain clothes during washing.
The flushing map shows what day we will be flushing in your area. If you live close to the border of one of the areas, you could also be affected when the adjacent area is flushed.
To avoid any discolored water resulting from water main cleaning, we recommend the following precautions:
- Turn your water softener off (or set it to “bypass”) for the day(s) when flushing will occur in your area.
- During the day(s) when flushing will occur in your area, don’t do laundry without first checking to see if your water is rust colored. You can check water by running the tap: if it’s rust-colored, don’t run your washing machine until you’ve cleared the water. To clear your water, simply run your cold water tap until it runs clear again. Then you can go ahead and do the laundry.
- Each morning, run the cold water tap to flush your household system of any discolored water sitting in the pipes. If tap water becomes discolored during the day, run the cold water tap until the water clears again.
These precautions need to be taken only when crews are flushing mains in or near your area. Although it’s a good idea to take these precautions, you may not actually experience any discolored water. You’re only likely to get discolored water if you happen to be running your water at the same time that crews are flushing the mains in your neighborhood. If you’re not using water when crews flush the mains, the water simply passes through the mains rather than coming into your home’s pipes.
We know that our flushing schedule can create some inconvenience for you, and we do our best to minimize this inconvenience. We appreciate your patience and hope you appreciate that flushing is necessary to make sure we continue to provide you great tasting water. Plus, flushing is a sure sign that spring is finally here!
