Why does the Water Department flush hydrants?
Hydrants are flushed twice per year to make sure that they are working in case of a fire. They are also flushed to move any stagnant water out of dead end lines and to clean out the water main. The Water Department tries to do this flushing in April and September each year, this is dependent upon the amount of rain received and how high the river is. Schedules for hydrant flushing are published in the Watertown Daily Times and are also aired on the Watertown Radio Station, WTTN 1580 AM. While the hydrant flushing is being done, customers may experience rusty water problems, if at all possible try to avoid using water during the hours while we are flushing in your area, usually from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
