The City of Harrisonville Water Department works hard to deliver our customers quality drinking water that meets all Federal & State standards. Hydrant flushing is a program we have in place to help maintain those standards.
Harrisonville water systems in the south and southeastern portions of the community are scheduled for flushing beginning on Monday, November 14. The information provided in this bulletin addresses some of the more commonly asked questions concerning hydrant flushing & should help give our customers insight into why we perform this program.
What is hydrant flushing?
Hydrant flushing is the process of opening each fire hydrant and forcing water through the mains of our distribution system to dislodge small particles of sediment that built up over time. Although the sediment does not pose as a health risk, it can result in discolored water when water travels through the mains during periods of peak demand. Hydrant flushing is an essential function of the City of Harrisonville to help maintain the delivery of quality water to its residents.
How often does hydrant flushing need to be done?
The frequency of hydrant flushing varies from one water system to the next depending on each system’s characteristics. The City of Harrisonville Water Department performs this program once a year, usually during the months when the demand for water is low. Our flushing program also includes the ongoing process of testing and maintaining fire hydrants. Our hydrant testing is combined with the flushing program so that the amount of water lost during the process is minimized. Water conservation practices apply to the Water Department in the same way as they apply to the customer.
Is hydrant flushing going to interrupt my water service?
The answer is NO. The City of Harrisonville will be flushing water mains during the daytime hours. We plan which hydrants are flushed to alleviate any inconvenience to our residents. However, residents may experience discolored water for a short period of time while flushing is being done in your neighborhood. Any discoloration should disappear within a short period of time. We will do our best to keep residents informed of when we will be in their neighborhood through door notices.
Steps the residents can take to help make this a positive & effective experience.
- The day flushing is scheduled on your street, fill a pitcher or container with water for consumption.
- Try not to use water while flushing is going on near your residence. (We will work hard to keep residents informed when we are in their neighborhood)
- If you do need water while we are in your neighborhood, please try to use cold water only This will help keep discolored water and sediment out of your hot water tank.
- If you have discolored water or the water has an odor and you are concerned, you can boil the water for three (3) minutes before drinking it, cooking with it. You can also try to avoid doing laundry with it till it clears up.
- If you experience discolored water, please run the cold-water side of your faucet closest to your water meter for five (5) minutes. If the discoloration is still there, turn the water off and let it set for 15 minutes. After it sets for 15 minutes, try running it for five (5) minutes again. If the water still does not clear up, please contact one of the numbers below.
If at any point during our flushing process you have any questions, feel free to contact us at either of these numbers. If there is no answer, please leave a message we will get back to you as soon as possible.
- Water Department (816)-380-8964
- Water Department Supervisor. (816) 380-8978
- Water Plant. (816) 380-8963