Fire Hydrant Flushing and Testing to Begin in March

The City of Newberry Fire Department will begin flushing and testing fire hydrants in neighborhoods across Newberry starting next week (March 1st) continuing until all hydrants have been properly tested, which is estimated to take about a month.

City of Newberry Fire Chief Ben Buckner says the fire department conducts these tests each year to ensure water quality for Newberry residents.

“Testing and flushing fire hydrants improves the quality of the water our residents use every day,” says Buckner. “It also helps us identify any mechanical issues so that we can ensure that we have good water service during emergencies.”

The fire department gathers flow data on the hydrants, which helps them determine which hydrants are the best to access when responding to a fire-related emergency. Hydrant flushing is necessary to test the hydrants to make sure adequate flow and pressure are available. Flushing is also done to remove sediment from the pipes in order to maintain water clarity and quality in the distribution pipes.

According to Buckner, fire hydrant testing is also required for the City’s ISO (Insurance Service Office) score, which measures the fire prevention and fire suppression capabilities of cities.

For residents who receive water from the City occasionally, water becomes discolored after hydrant flushing. This is a temporary situation resulting from flushing sediment out of the pipes. The water may also be cloudy or appear white due to air entrapped in the water. If this happens, run your cold water tap for a few minutes until the water clears. If it doesn’t clear the first time, wait a few minutes and run the water again. While there are no health hazards associated with this, it is best to avoid washing white clothing while the testing occurs, to avoid the possibility of stains. Your water is safe to drink before, during, and after the hydrants in your area have been flushed.

For more information, please call (352) 472-2161 for assistance.