HIAWASSEE, Ga. – The City of Hiawassee announced that the water department will begin flushing area fire hydrants Tuesday, July 8 through Friday, July 19, between the hours of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. “Because of the nature of the work, it is not possible to predetermine how long flushing a given area will take,” the city government explained.

The process of periodically flushing water lines is an important preventive maintenance procedure. Over the course of time, loose sediment and mineral deposits may slowly accumulate inside of the piping, resulting in discolored water and reduced capacity. “Customers should be aware of the potential for dirty and discolored water,” the City of Hiawassee said. “This is a temporary situation resulting from the flushing of the pipes. The water may also be cloudy or appear white due to air entrapped in the water. All water system users are cautioned to check the water before use for clarity. Should you experience dirty water, simply wait for a period of time and it will clear up. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause our customers and appreciate your understanding.”

Fire hydrant flushing removes mineral and sediment build up from the water mains, allowing utilities to deliver the highest water quality possible to its customers. The process evaluates the available flow to the hydrant, and verifies proper hydrant operation. The procedure assists water operators in identifing broken or inoperable hydrants and valves to assure that they are functioning at their maximum potential. The water pressure and available flow rate from the hydrants can be assessed by operators, imperative for firefighting purposes, during the flushing process.