Water Main Flushing Begins this Month and Continues through the Fall

From NJ American Water -

“Flushing the system helps to clean out any buildup of mineral deposits and sediment inside the pipes,” Thomas Shroba, Vice President of Operations. “The company also flushes its hydrants to confirm they are operational and to check fire flows in the system.”

Flushing involves simultaneously opening fire hydrants in a specific area to create increased water flows. This routine flushing program also includes flushing blowoff valves on dead-end water mains throughout the system. The service areas and dates when flushing begins are posted at www.newjerseyamwater.com, under Alerts.

“In addition to continuously investing in our infrastructure, essential maintenance activities such as our hydrant flushing program are key to providing our customers with high-quality drinking water and is an annual requirement of the Water Quality Accountability Act,” Shroba added.

While water mains are being cleaned, customers may notice short periods of low water pressure or discolored water. If customers experience temporary water discoloration, New Jersey American Water recommends running the cold water until it is clear. 

The following steps are also encouraged:

• Draw water for cooking prior to the flushing period.
• Store a large bottle of water in the refrigerator for drinking.
• Check for discolored water before using the washing machine or dishwasher.
• If water pressure or water volume seems low after flushing has been completed, check faucet screens for trapped particles.

In addition to viewing the schedule on the company’s website, customers also have the option to be updated on the local flushing schedule via phone call, text or email by enrolling in New Jersey American Water’s customer notification system at www.mywater.amwater.com.

WHY FLUSHING IS IMPORTANT

Flushing our system helps to clean out any build-up of mineral deposits and sediment inside the pipes. These deposits can occur when there is a reduced water demand. We also flush our hydrants to confirm they are operational and to check fire flows in our system.

HOW WE FLUSH OUR PIPELINES

Flushing involves simultaneously opening fire hydrants in a specific area to create increased water flows. When our crews are on your street or nearby, this process usually takes about one hour.

WHAT TO EXPECT

When crews are in your area, you may notice a drop in water pressure or discolored water. Discolored water may occur because the sediment in water mains gets stirred up when the fire hydrants are used and when the flow of water in mains is changed. This is normal. If this happens, it is not harmful. Simply let your water run until it is clear.

WHAT TO DO TO PREPARE FOR FLUSHING

• Sign up for our customer notification system at www.mywater.amwater.com to receive a call, text, or email to let you know when we’ll be flushing in your neighborhood.
• Draw water for cooking ahead of time.
• Store a large bottle of water in the refrigerator for drinking.
• Check for discolored water before using the washing machine or dishwasher.

ADDITIONAL CUSTOMER TIPS

• Avoid running your tap water and using the washing machine or dishwasher while crews are flushing in your area.
• If discolored water occurs, simply run the cold water for a few minutes until it clears. This will allow the sediment to work its way through your pipes.
• Check for discolored water before using the washing machine or dishwasher. Wait until the water runs clear at the tap before doing laundry or running the dishwasher. 

NOTE: If your laundry becomes stained, DO NOT PUT YOUR LAUNDRY IN THE DRYER. Rewash clothes immediately using detergent and add a rust remover. Most rust removers can also be used on stained fixtures.

In some cases, slight discoloration might linger for a few hours. This discoloration only affects the appearance of the water and does not affect water quality. No health hazards are associated with discolored water from hydrant flushing. If water pressure or water volume seems low after flushing has been completed, check your faucet screens for trapped particles.

HOW TO GET CUSTOMER NOTIFICATIONS

We will use our phone/text/email customer notification system to notify you before we begin flushing your neighborhood. You must opt-in to these types of non-emergency alerts.

• Log into MyWater, our customer portal, at mywater.amwater.com.
• On the Alert Settings tile, click on the Edit button, which will take you to the page where you can update your contact information and preferences.
• You can also simply contact Customer Service at 1-800-272-1325 to enroll.

Check out our local area's water quality report from 2020.

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