Please find and view the most up to date news and information regarding the Town of Crawford listed below.
Water / Sewer Payments Mail Drop Box
We are happy to announce that you can now drop off your water/sewer payment in the mail drop box in front of Town Hall. (on the right front side).
Annual Drinking Water Quality for 2023 - Pine Bush Water District
121 State Route 302, Pine Bush, N.Y. 12566
To comply with State and Federal regulations, the Pine Bush Water District will be annually issuing a report describing the quality of your drinking water. The purpose of this report is to raise your understanding of drinking water and awareness of the need to protect our drinking water sources. This report provides an overview of last year’s water quality. Included are details about where your water comes from, what it contains, and how it compares to State standards.
If you have any questions about this report or concerning your drinking water, please contact Chris Finnegan, Superintendent of Water and Sewer, at 744-2515. We want you to be informed about your drinking water. If you want to learn more, please attend any of our regularly scheduled Town Board meetings. The meetings are held at 7:30 pm on the third Thursday of the month.
WHERE DOES OUR WATER COME FROM?
In general, the sources of drinking water (both tap water and bottled water) include rivers, lakes, streams, ponds, reservoirs, springs, and wells. As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally-occurring minerals and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or from human activities. Contaminants that may be present in source water include: microbial contaminants; inorganic contaminants; pesticides and herbicides; organic chemical contaminants; and radioactive contaminants. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, the State and the EPA prescribe regulations which limit the amount of
certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The State Health Department’s and the FDA’s regulations establish limits for contaminants in bottled water which must provide the same protection for public health.
Our water source is entirely a ground water (well) supply consisting of three wells. During 2022 the water was pumped from the wells and treated with chlorine to destroy microorganisms and injected with phosphates to control iron and manganese prior to delivery to the customers. An average volume of approximately 241,000 gallons per day was withdrawn from the wells. Total water drawn from the wells for the year for 47,688,00. This supply served a population of approximately 2,100 plus a central school system of approximately 5,650. Some water loss can be attributed to water main breaks, flushing and normal system losses. The annual average charged for water during 2022 was $6.00 per 1000 gallons.
ARE THERE CONTAMINANTS IN OUR DRINKING WATER?
As the State regulations require, we routinely test your drinking water for numerous contaminants. These contaminants include total coliform, inorganic compounds, nitrate, nitrite, lead and copper, volatile organic compounds, total trihalomethanes, and synthetic organic compounds. Table I depicts which compounds were detected in your drinking water. The State allows us to test for some contaminants less than once per year because the concentrations of these contaminants do not change frequently. Some of our data, though representative, are more than one year old. A supplement containing all the test results is available for viewing by contacting Christopher Finnegan at the Water Department. Please call 845-744-2515. You may request a copy of the supplement containing these results.
What Does This Information Mean?
We have learned through our testing that some contaminants have been detected. We are required to present the following information on lead in drinking water:
“Infants and children who drink water containing lead in excess of the action level could experience delays in their physical or mental development. Children could show slight deficits in attention span and learning abilities. Adults who drink this water over many years could develop kidney problems or high blood pressure” If present, elevated levels of lead can cause serious health problems, especially for pregnant women, infants, and young children. It is possible that lead levels at your home may be higher than at other homes in the community as a result of materials used in your home’s plumbing. The Pine Bush Water District is responsible for providing high quality drinking water, but cannot control the variety of materials used in plumbing components. When your water has been sitting for several hours, you can minimize the potential for lead exposure by flushing your tap for 30 seconds to 2 minutes before using water for drinking or cooking. If you are concerned about lead in your water, you may wish to have your water tested. Information on lead in drinking water, testing methods, and steps you can take to minimize exposure is available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (1-800-426-4791)) or at http://www.epa.gov/safewater/lead.
It should be noted that all drinking water, including bottled drinking water, may be reasonably expected to contain at least small amounts of some contaminants. The presence of contaminants does not necessarily indicate that water poses a health risk. More information about contaminants and potential health effects can be obtained by calling the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or the Orange County Health Department at 845-291-2331.
Although our drinking water met or exceeded state and federal regulations, some people may be more vulnerable to disease causing microorganisms or pathogens in drinking water than the general population. Immuno-compromised persons such as persons with cancer undergoing chemotherapy, persons who have undergone organ transplants, people with HIV/AIDS or other immune system disorders, some elderly, and infants can be particularly at risk from infections. These people should seek advice from their health care provider about their drinking water. EPA/CDC guidelines on appropriate means to lessen the risk of infection by Cryptosporidium, Giardia, and other microbial pathogens are available from the Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800- 426-4791).
WHY SAVE WATER AND HOW TO AVOID WASTING IT?
Although our system has an adequate amount of water to meet present and future demands, there are a number of reasons why it is important to conserve water:
* Saving water saves energy and some of the costs associated with both of these necessities of life;
* Saving water reduces the cost of energy required to pump water and the need to construct costly new wells, pumping systems and water towers; and
* Saving water lessens the strain on the water system during a dry spell or drought, helping to avoid severe water use restrictions so that essential fire fighting needs are met. You can play a role in conserving water by becoming conscious of the amount of water your household is using, and by looking for ways to use less whenever you can. It is not hard to conserve water. Conservation tips include:
* Automatic dishwashers use 15 gallons for every cycle, regardless of how many dishes are loaded. So get a run for your money and load it to capacity.
* Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth.
* Check every faucet in your home for leaks. Just a slow drip can waste 15 to 20 gallons a day. Fix it up and you can save almost 6,000 gallons per year.
* Check your toilets for leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank, watch for a few minutes to see if the color shows up in the bowl. It is not uncommon to lose up to 100 gallons a day from one of these otherwise invisible toilet leaks. Fix it and you save more than 30,000 gallons a year.
* Use your water meter to detect hidden leaks. Simply turn off all taps and water using appliances, then check the meter after 15 minutes. If it moved, you have a leak.
There are presently three New York State Department of Health certified water operators employed by the Pine Bush Water District. Each operator must receive continuing education throughout the year. We at the Pine Bush Water Department work around the clock to provide top quality water at every tap. We ask that all of our customers help us protect our water sources, which are the heart of our community, our way of life, and our children’s future.
PLEASE CALL MY OFFICE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. 845-744-2515.
Christopher Finnegan, Chief Operator, Water & Sewer
Footnotes:
1. If iron or manganese are present, the total concentration of both should not exceed 0.5 Mg/L. Higher levels may be allowed by the State when justified by the supplier of water.
2. Iron is essential for maintaining good health. However, too much iron can cause adverse health effects. Drinking water with very large amounts of iron can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and stomach pain. These effects usually diminish once the elevated iron exposure is stopped. A small number of people have a condition called hemochromatosis, in which the body absorbs and stores too much iron. People with hemochromatosis may be at greater risk for health effects resulting from too much iron in the body (sometimes called “iron overload”) and should be aware of their overall iron intake. The New York State standard for iron in drinking water is 0.3 milligrams per liter, and is based on iron’s effects on the taste, odor and color of the water.
3. Manganese is a common element in rocks, soil, water, plants, and animals. Manganese occurs naturally in water after dissolving from rocks and soil. Contamination of drinking water may occur if manganese gets into surface or groundwater after dissolving from rocks and soil. It may also occur if manganese gets into surface or groundwater after improper waste disposal in landfills or by facilities using manganese in the production of steel or other products.
4. Manganese is an essential nutrient that is necessary to maintain good health. However, exposure to too much manganese can cause adverse health effects. There is some evidence from human studies that long-term exposure to manganese in drinking water is associated with nervous system effects in adults (e.g., weakness, stiff muscles and trembling of the hands) and children (learning and behavior). The results of these studies only suggest an effect because the possible influences of other factors were not adequately assessed. There is supporting evidence that manganese causes nervous system effects in humans from occupational studies of workers exposed to high levels of manganese in air, but the relevance of these studies to long term drinking water exposure is less clear because the exposures were quite elevated and by inhalation, not by ingestion.4. Excess manganese produces a brownish color in laundered goods and impairs the taste of tea, coffee, and other beverages. Concentrations may cause a dark brown or black stain on porcelain plumbing fixtures. As with iron, manganese may form a coating on distribution pipes. These may slough off, causing brown blotches on laundered clothing or black particles in the water.
5. Water containing more than 20 mg/L of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on severely restricted sodium diets. Water containing more than 270 mg/L of sodium should not be used for drinking by people on moderately restricted sodium diets.
6. The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 20 sites tested. A percentile is a value on a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the copper values detected at your water system. In this case, 20 samples were collected at your water system and the 90th percentile value was the third highest value. The action level for copper was not exceeded at any of the sites tested.
7. The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 20 sites tested. A percentile is a value of a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the lead values detected at your water system. In this case, 20 samples were collected at your water system and the 90th percentile value was the third highest value. The action level for lead was exceeded at one of the sites tested. Please see section “What does this information mean?” for health information on Lead.
8. Please note that in addition to PFOS and PFOA, the lab ran the analysis for the entire EPA method 537.1, which includes 16 additional perfluorinated chemicals, 4 of these additional chemicals were detected, the highest of which was 4.19 ng/l. These additional analytes are not currently regulated and do not have an MCL.
Pine Bush W.D.
Source Water Assessment Report Summary
The NYS DOH has completed a source assessment for this system, based on available information. Possible and actual threats to this drinking water source were evaluated. The state source water assessment includes a susceptibility rating based on the risk posed by each potential source of contamination and how easily contaminants can move through the subsurface to the wells. The susceptibility rating is an estimate of the potential for contamination of the source water, it does not mean that the water delivered to consumers is, or will become contaminated. See “Table of Detected Contaminants” for a list of the contaminants that have been detected. The source water assessments provide resource managers with additional information for protecting source waters into the future.
As mentioned before, our water is derived from three drilled wells. The source water assessment has rated these wells as having a medium-high to susceptibility to microbials, nitrates, industrial solvents, and other industrial contaminates. These ratings are due primarily to the close proximity of SPDES permitted discharge facilities (industrial/commercial facilities that discharge wastewater into the environment and are regulated by the state and/or federal government), the low-level residential activity and the pasture that are located in the assessment area. In addition, the wells draw from an unconfined aquifer of high hydraulic conductivity and the overlying soils may not provide adequate protection from potential contamination. While the source water assessment rates our well as being susceptible to microbials, please note that our water is disinfected to ensure that the finished water delivered into your home meets New York State’s drinking water standards for microbial contamination.
The Town of Crawford has made some significant upgrades to your water system with guidance from our water operators from H2O Innovation. Including, Fire Hydrants have been replaced, relocation of hydrants to better suite the needs of the public.. All Hydrants in the system have been tested and working. Flushing of the district has continued, we have daytime and nighttime flushing operators. Every Spring and Fall, the town will send out information beforehand. This removes all settling common to natural minerals in the system mains. We have noticed significant improvement of water quality out of our hydrants with this flushing program. Meters throughout the system have been repaired to insure correct asset management of our water.
Green Sand filter project is completed and we are seeing great removal or iron and manganese in the system, we will continue to flush to remove and keep our water safe.
A copy of the assessment, including a map of the assessment area, can be obtained by contacting us, as noted in this report. H2O Innovation 24 hour answering service number (845)888-5755. Thanks!
Non-Detects (ND) - Laboratory analysis indicates that the constituent is not present.
Action Level - The concentration of a contaminant which, if exceeded, triggers treatment or other requirements which a water system must follow.
Conversion Factor - Multiply By To Obtain
Mg/L(ppm) Multiply detected Ug/L(ppb)
Level by 1,000
Divide By To Obtain
UG/L(ppb) Divide detected MG/L(ppm)
Hardness - Measured in grains (1 grain=17.1 mg/L) or mg/L, any water over 10 grains is considered very hard.
Maximum Contaminant Level - The “Maximum Allowed” (MCL) is the highest level of a contaminant that is allowed in drinking water. MCLs are set as close to the MCLGs as feasible using the best available treatment technology. MCL’s are set at very stringent levels. To understand the possible health effects described for many regulated constituents, a person would have to drink 2 liters of water every day at the MCL level for a lifetime to have a one-in-a-million chance of having the described health effect.
Maximum Contaminant Level Goal – The ”Goal” (MCLG) is the level of a contaminant in drinking water below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MCLGs allow for a margin of safety.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level (MRDL): The highest level of a disinfectant allowed in drinking water. There is convincing evidence that addition of a disinfectant is necessary for control of microbial contaminants.
Maximum Residual Disinfectant Level Goal (MRDLG): The level of a drinking water disinfectant below which there is no known or expected risk to health. MRDLGs do not reflect the benefits of the use of disinfectants to control microbial contamination.
Parts per million (ppm) or Milligrams per liter (mgl) - One part per million corresponds to one part of liquid in one million parts of liquid ( parts per million - ppm)
Parts per billion (ppb) or Micrograms per liter - One part per billion corresponds to one part of liquid in one billion parts of liquid (parts per billion - ppb)
**IS OUR WATER SYSTEM MEETING OTHER RULES THAT GOVERN OPERATIONS?
During 2023, our system was in compliance with applicable State drinking water operating, monitoring and reporting requirements.
Table of Detected Contaminants
Contaminant
Violation
Yes/No
Date of Sample
Level Detected
(Avg/Max)
(Range)
Unit
Measure-ment
MCLG
Regulatory Limit (MCL, TT or AL)
Likely Source of Contamination
Barium
No
7/14/21
Max = 0.23
Range =
0.11 to 0.23
mg/l
2
MCL = 2
Erosion of natural deposits.
Arsenic
7/18
Max = 1.4
ND to 1.4
ug/l
N/A
MCL = 10
Sodium
8/22/23
Max = 76.5
11.1-76.5
See Note 5
Road Salt
Nickel
Max = 3.2
1.9 to 3.2
100
MCL = 100
Erosion of natural deposits
**Copper6
9/27/23
90th%tile= 0.34 (0.018 - 0.432)
MG/L
1.3
AL=1.3Mg/l
Corrosion of household plumbing systems
**Lead7
90th %=8.74
(ND – 74.8)
Ug/l
0
AL=15
Nitrate
6/22/23
8/21/23
Range = 0.119-0.358
10
MCL=10
Run-off from fertilizer use
Annual Drinking Water Quality for 2022 - Pine Bush Water District
P.O. Box 109, Pine Bush, N.Y. 12566
2. Iron has no health effects. At 1,000 ug/l a substantial number of people will note the bitter astringent taste of iron. Also, at this concentration, it imparts a brownish color to laundered clothing and stains plumbing fixtures with a characteristic rust color. Staining can result at levels of 50 ug/l, lower than those detectable to taste buds. Therefore, the MCL of 300 ug/l represents a reasonable compromise as adverse aesthetic effects are minimized at this level. Many multi-vitamins may contain 3000 or 4000 ug/l of iron per capsule.
3. The Food and Nutrition Board of the National Research Council determined an estimated safe and adequate daily dietary intake of manganese to be 2000-5000 ug/l for adults. However, many people’s diets lead them to consume even higher amounts of manganese, especially those who consume high amounts of vegetable or are vegetarian. The infant population is of greatest concern. It would be better if the drinking water were not used to make infant formula since it already contains iron and manganese.
4. Excess manganese produces a brownish color in laundered goods and impairs the taste of tea, coffee, and other beverages. Concentrations may cause a dark brown or black stain on porcelain plumbing fixtures. As with iron, manganese may form a coating on distribution pipes. These may slough off, causing brown blotches on laundered clothing or black particles in the water.
7. The level presented represents the 90th percentile of the 20 sites tested. A percentile is a value of a scale of 100 that indicates the percent of a distribution that is equal to or below it. The 90th percentile is equal to or greater than 90% of the lead values detected at your water system. In this case, 20 samples were collected at your water system and the 90th percentile value was the third highest value. The action level for lead was not exceeded at any of the sites tested.
8. Lease note that in addition to PFOS and PFOA, the lab ran the analysis for the entire EPA method 537.1, which includes 16 additional perfluorinated chemicals, 4 of these additional chemicals were detected, the highest of which was 4.19 ng/l. These additional analytes are not currently regulated and do not have an MCL.
The Town of Crawford has made some significant upgrades to your water system with guidance from our water operatrs from H2O Innovation. Including, Fire Hydrants have been replaced, relocation of hydrants to better suite the needs of the public.. All Hydrants in the system have been tested and working. Flushing of the district has continued, we have daytime and nighttime flushing operators. Every Spring and Fall, the town will send out information beforehand. This removes all settling common to natural minerals in the system mains. We have noticed significant improvement of water quality out of our hydrants with this flushing program. Meters throughout the system have been repaired to insure correct asset management of our water.
Green Sand filter project is ongoing at all well houses to improve the quality of drinking water in the town. This will be a significant upgrade to the towns drinking water.
We are required to monitor your drinking water for specific contaminants on a regular basis. Results of regular monitoring are an indicator of whether or not your drinking water meets health standards. Please see below all sample results required from Orange County DOH for our water system in 2022.
Violations:
7/10/18
7/15/22
Max = 88
0.42 to .086
9/30/19
90th%tile= .021
90th %=3.4
(ND-9.1)
10/19/22
AVG= 0.134
Coliform
no
10/4/202
Positive coliform
MPN
n/a
Bacteria
Table of Detected Contaminants Con’t
Organic/Inorganic Contamination Chemical
Total Trihalomethanes (TTHMs – chloroform, bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, and bromoform)
7/11/22
11
MCL = 80
By-product of drinking water chlorination needed to kill harmful organisms. TTHMs are formed when source water contains organic matter.
HAA5
8.4
Uranium
7/10/17
Max = 2.86
N.D to 2.86
MCL = 30
Iron1/4
Yes
2/24/21
9/8/21
12/23/21
Max = 0.27
ND to .27
0.3
Naturally occurring
Manganese3/4
YES
Max = 0.321
Range
0.042 - 0.321
bromomethane
3/29/22
0.99
5
Used to kill a variety of pest
Total Phosphate
Jan-Dec
365
Samples
Avg.=.90
Range=
.10 to 3.0
NSF
MAX=29
Water additive for Iron and Manganese control
Water Main Flushing Program Pine Bush Water
The 2021 Water Main Flushing Program:
Night Time flushing 9:00 pm to 2:00 am. Day Time flushing 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
October 25th (NIGHT TIME) Main well, Holland, EJR, Kelly, Borden, Cameron, Church, Edmunds, Ribbecke
October 26th (NIGHT TIME) High School, Crispell, Black hawk, Stock Market, Boniface
October 27th (NIGHT TIME) Boniface, Ted, Hannford, McDonalds to Route 52
October 28th (DAY TIME) Maple, Charles, Prospect, New, Center
October 28th (NIGHT TIME) True Value Plaza, Rt 52, Hueg, Depot, Railroad, North
October 29th (DAY TIME) Orchard, Shawangunk, Van Keuren, Finneran, Kerilee, Greising, Martin, Arthur, Gross, Hardenburg
Please contact Water Department at 744-2515 with any questions about 2021 flushing program.
More Information about Flushing
During the flushing program, most crews work between 9:00 am to 3:00 pm., and 9:00 pm to 2:00 am Monday through Friday.
What is the Water Main (Hydrant) Flushing Program?
To improve water quality and minimize discoloration, water mains are comprehensively flushed by a technique known as Conventional flushing. The procedure is performed in warm-weather months and involves the systematic opening and closing of hydrants, one section of main at a time, to force the water through the pipes at high velocity, removing accumulated mineral sediment until the water is clear. The operation can take from a few minutes to over an hour, although most last about 30 minutes.
How Will Flushing Affect Water Service?
When flushing crews are working close to your residence or business, you may experience periods of very low pressure or even a complete stoppage of service. Flushing operations may also lead to discolored water, which can be drawn into homes and businesses if the water is being used during or immediately following the flushing. Such events should affect customers for a few hours at most. The discoloration is caused by iron (red color) or manganese (black color) particles being dislodged from the water main which can stain porcelain and laundry. If discoloration occurs, open the cold tap nearest the water meter—usually a basement sink—to full flow until the water runs clear. In some situations, this may take 5 to 10 minutes. It is also advised that you make sure your water is clear before doing laundry or other projects for which discolored water could cause problems.
A precise schedule of flushing operations is difficult to determine more than a day or two in advance. We ask for your patience and understanding during this critical main cleaning process.
Water Main Flushing Program
The 2020 Water Main Flushing Program began on Monday, April 27, 2020 (all flushing is daytime unless otherwise noted):
April 27th (Night Time) Main well to Main Street, includes Holland to EJR, Kelly, Borden and Cameron
April 28th (Night Time) Main well to Black hawk Road, Boniface, to Route 52(McDonalds) includes Ted, and Hannaford.
April 29th (Night Time) Route 302 to Route 52 includes High School, Crispell, Edmunds and Main Street
April 30th (Day Time) Maple Ave., New St., Center, Charles, Prospect, Railroad.
May 1st (Day Time) Depot, Hueg Place
May 4th (Day Time) North St., Orchard, Van Kuren, Shawangunk, Finneran, James, Kericle
May 5th (Day Time) Greising, Marten, Arthur, Gross, Hardenburgh
Please contact Water Department at 744-2515 with any questions or comments about 2020 flushing program.
During the flushing season, most crews work between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, with one crew working at night from 10:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m., primarily in the business area.
When flushing crews are working close to your residence or business, you may experience periods of very low pressure or even a complete stoppage of service. Flushing operations may also lead to discolored water, which can be drawn into homes and businesses if the water is being used during or immediately following the flushing. Such events should affect customers for a few hours at most. The discoloration is caused by iron (red color) or manganese (black color) particles being dislodged from the water main which can stain porcelain and laundry. If discoloration occurs, open the cold tap nearest the water meter—usually a basement sink—to full flow until the water runs clear. In some situations this may take 5 to 10 minutes. It is also advised that you make sure your water is clear before doing laundry or other projects for which discolored water could cause problems.
A precise schedule of flushing operations is difficult to determine more than a day or two in advance. If you wish to be notified before work will be done in your area, please call Water Department at 744-2515
We ask for your patience and understanding during this critical main cleaning process.
The 2023 Water Main Flushing Program will began on Monday, July 10, 2023 (all flushing is daytime unless otherwise noted):
July 10th Main well to Main Street, includes Holland to EJR, Kelly, Borden and Cameron
July 11th Main well to Black hawk Road, Boniface, to Route 52(McDonalds) includes Ted, and Hannaford.
July 12th Route 302 to Route 52i includes High School, Crispell, Edmunds and Main Street
July 13th Maple Ave., New St., Center, Charles, Prospect, Railroad.
July 14th Depot, Hueg Place
July 17th North St., Orchard, Van Kueren, Shawangunk, Finneran, James, Kerilee
July 18th Greising, Marten, Arthur, Gross, Hardenburgh
Please contact Water Department at (845) 744-2515 with any questions or comments about 2023 flushing program.
More Information About Flushing
During the flushing season, most crews work between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.
A precise schedule of flushing operations is difficult to determine more than a day or two in advance. If you wish to be notified before work will be done in your area, please call Water Department at (845) 744-2515
The 2024 Water Main Flushing Program:
Time flushing 9:00 am to 4:00pm
May 6 - Main Well, Holland, EJR, Kelly, Borden, Cameron, Church, Edmunds
May 7 - Crispell, Blackhawk, Stock Market, Boniface
May 8 - Boniface, Ted, McDonalds to Route 52
May 9 - Maple, Charles, Prospect, New Center
May 10 -True Value Plaza, Rt 52, Hueg, Depot, Railroad, North
May 13 & 14 - Orchard, Shawangunk, Van Kueren, Finneran, Kerilee, Greising, Martin, Arthur, Gross, Hardenburgh
Please contact the Water Department at 845-744-2515 with any question about the 2024 flushing programs.
More Information about Flushing:
During the flushing program, most crews work between 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday
To improve water quality and minimize discoloration, water mains are comprehensively flushed by a technique known as Conventional flushing. The procedure is performed in warm-weather months and involves the systematic opening and closing of hydrants, one section of the main at a time, to force the water through the pipes at high velocity, removing accumulated mineral sediment until the water is clear. The operation can take from a few minutes to over hour, although most last about 30 minutes.
How will Flushing Affect Water Services?
When flushing crew are working close to your residence or business, you may experience periods of very low pressure or even a complete stoppage of service. Flushing operations may also lead to discolored water, which can be drawn into homes and businesses if the water is being used during or immediately following flushing. Such events should affect customers for a few hours at the most. The discoloration is caused by iron (red color) or manganese (black color) particles being dislodged from the water main which can stain porcelain and laundry. If discoloration occurs, open cold tap nearest the water meter-usually a basement sink-to full flow until the water runs clear. In some situations, this may take 5 to 10 minutes. It also advised that you make sure your water is clear before doing laundry or other projects for which discolored water could cause problems. A precise schedule of flushing operations is difficult to determine more than a day or two in advance. We ask for your patience and understanding during this critical main cleaning process.