Water Main Flushing

Water Main Flushing

The Town has been flushing water from the main waterlines in the harbor area. This is typically done with any municipal water system to remove any sediment that may build up in the pipe. The Town opens hydrants along the water line, stirring up the sediment in the pipe which is then removed from the system thru hydrants located at the limits of the flushing area. This is done to prevent the sediment from being stirred up in the water lines during a fire, high demand time of year or a broken water line. Most of the sediment is removed from the pipes but some does escape into the system which causes the discoloration of water.

The water system is a closed system and sediment can spread throughout the system until it is flushed.  Removing discolored water from your residence begins by allowing water to flush from an outdoor spigot. This will prevent sediment from entering fixtures in the residence. It is also why Border Street can experience brown water from a hydrant that is opened on Front Street. The sediment travels thru the system until it can escape. The entire water system is controlled by pressure and elevation.

Where does the brown water come from? The major cause of the discolored water is old unlined water pipes that can react with the minerals naturally occurring in water. The Town is in the process of replacing 23 miles of this pre-1935 water pipe and has removed over 15 miles of this pipe from service to date. The Town is heavily dependent on ground water wells as a source of drinking water which can also be rich in minerals and contribute to the brown water. These minerals consist of iron or manganese.

The Town will continue to do preemptive flushing to remove sediment from the system and try to prevent future brown water concerns. Last year the Town was impacted by the drought and unable to flush or complete transition from the old to new water pipes that were installed last year. The water replacement work will be starting again soon and there is always the possibility of brown water as we deactivate the older pipes.  

The forecast shows temperatures below freezing for the upcoming week, suspending flushing next week.

Thank you for your patience.