Hydrant flushing to take place this week in City of Fond du Lac

The City of Fond du Lac Water Utility department will begin it’s annual citywide hydrant flushing today.

The schedule for the flushing starts in the Northeast Section of the city Monday, Tuesday in the Southeast, and Wednesday/Thursday in the Southwest and Northwest.
Flushing operations will take place each day between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. The City is divided into quarters with Main Street north and south and Fourth Street and Western Avenue used as the east and west boundary lines.

The department says during hydrant flushing, residents may notice a slight discoloration of water but that this is temporary and poses no health risk. However, you are asked not do laundry or use automatic ice machines until the water runs clear from your tap. It is advisable to avoid running water while the crew is flushing on your street. If homeowners encounter discolored water after City flushing has occurred, water can be flushed by running cold water for about 5 minutes. If pressure or volume seems low, check faucet screens for trapped particles. If you still experience problems with water quality or pressure after the flushing event, you should contact the City of Fond du Lac Water Utility at 322-3680.

The objective of the flushing is to improve overall water quality. Flushing rids the water of mineral sediment by scouring and cleaning the interior walls of pipes. When water is systematically pulled in one general direction by opening hydrants, these sediments are flushed out.