Fire Department to conduct hydrant flushing August 12-24

On August 8, 2024, in Latest News, by The Somerville Times

Citywide hydrant maintenance keeps hydrants ready in case of fire; Temporary water discoloration may occur but water is safe to drink

The Somerville Fire Department will begin the annual inspection and flushing of all fire hydrants citywide on Monday, August 12, and conclude on Saturday, August 24. This annual fire hydrant maintenance program helps keep our community safe by helping to ensure hydrants will work properly in the event of a fire.

Firefighters will be conducting brief flushing of water from the hydrants as well as a check of the mechanical operation of each hydrant. The inspection and testing program will take approximately two weeks to complete. Inspections and testing will be conducted Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. and if necessary, in the evening, from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m.

In most cases, residents will not notice any changes to their water service.

However, in some cases you may experience a temporary, slight drop in water pressure and/or discolored water:

In these cases, though the water may be discolored, it is safe to drink.
If discoloration occurs, if you like, you can open the cold tap nearest the water meter – usually a basement sink – to full flow until the water runs clear. In some situations, this may take 5 to 10 minutes.
Until the water runs clear, it is advisable to avoid washing laundry, especially white fabrics.
If you happen to do laundry while the water is discolored, don’t dry those items!
If any rust stains appear on wet laundry, again, it should not be dried, and residents can call 311 (617-666-3311) for a free bottle of rust remover.

The Water Department also conducts additional hydrant testing and maintenance year-round.

For hydrant flushing schedules by street, which are usually updated daily or weekly, please visit www.somervillema.gov/hydrantflushing.

Please understand that schedules may be subject to change based on weather and other factors.

Anyone with questions regarding hydrant maintenance may contact 311 or the Somerville Fire Department at 617-623-1700.