Annual Hydrant Flushing May Cause Brown Water

PRESS RELEASE
August 29, 2016

For Immediate Release

Lt. Matthew Garland
Hamilton Fire Department
Email: matt.garland@hamilton-oh.gov
Phone: (513) 785-7504

Hamilton, Ohio - Fire hydrants throughout the city are flushed and serviced annually each fall. This year, the process will begin on September 6, 2016, and continue for approximately 3 to 5 weeks. We ask that residents refrain from washing laundry between the hours of 8 A.M. and 1 P.M. Monday-Friday during these weeks. Flushing creates sediment in the lines, which can lead to brown water. This water is still safe but it is recommended that residents do not drink discolored water. Brown water can take up to a week to make it into a home, so if you notice discoloration, run the water in your home for 5 to 10 minutes or until it becomes clear. If residents experience discolored water during this process and have any questions or concerns, they are encouraged to call 513-785-7550 and select option 4 for the gas and water department.

The downtown area and the region of the city bounded by Tylersville Road, Hamilton-Mason Road, and Bypass Route 4 will be serviced on Saturdays only. All other neighborhoods will be serviced between the hours of 8 A.M. and 1 P.M. on weekdays. Weather and emergency response activity make it difficult to predict when flushing will occur in each neighborhood. During this time we will be posting in our weekly newsletter which areas are expected to be served during the following week. Residents can sign up to receive this and other newsletters by selecting 'Sign up for Newsletters' on our website or by following this link.

Hydrant flushing clears the natural buildup of sediment from water mains and extends infrastructure life. Through this process, we are able to verify that hydrants are properly functioning in the event of an emergency and to identify any hydrants that require service or replacement.

Additionally, the fire department uses hydrant flushing as a training exercise. This process allows crews to visit territories they may not see often, allowing them to gain familiarity with areas and to remember hydrants as a landmark in case of an emergency. Fire fighters also practice 'what if' scenarios while flushing the hydrants, including discussing building construction and tactics to respond to a variety of emergency situations.

"We love getting out into the community and talking with the citizens of Hamilton," said Hamilton Fire Department Lieutenant Matthew Garland. "We are often asked questions about the Fire Department or the City and we can help by answering these questions or directing people to the proper contact for an answer."

This year, the fire department and the GIS division of the City will also be using geolocation techniques to capture information on each fire hydrant. This would allow for the merger of hydrant information with underground utilities information, and would allow for more efficient and effective decision making.

Firefighter Tyler Larsh opens a fire hydrant as part of the City's hydrant flushing and servicing program.

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About Hamilton, Ohio. Located on the Great Miami River in the heart of the Cincinnati-Dayton metroplex, Hamilton is a historically-significant city with approximately 63,000 residents. Home to Miami University Hamilton and the County Seat of Butler County, Hamilton is the area center for government, finance and industry. Known for its unparalleled art, cultural & recreational activities, Hamilton is continually expanding its quality of life offerings. An award winning community, Hamilton was the recipient of the 2010 & 2015 Berkeley Springs International Water Tasting "Best Water in the World" award, the winner of the 2012 "Best of the Best" award by the Ohio Section of the American Water Works Association, the prestigious 2010 Public Gas System Achievement Award and five consecutive Reliable Public Power Provider (RP3) Platinum level awards. Additionally, the Hamilton City School District was named The National School District of Character for 2012. For more information, please visit www.hamilton-city.org.