The City of Ann Arbor Field Services Unit provides annual fire hydrant inspection and system maintenance procedures by flushing water through selected area hydrants during the spring and fall. During this process, you may observe a fire hydrant with water coming out of the side opening.

On occasion, the water in your home may temporarily have an orange or rusty appearance. The water is safe to use and drink. The iron sediment in the water main pipes being disturbed by the hydrant flushing is causing the discoloration. If this occurs, please run your COLD water for several minutes to clear your lines. You should also flush your toilets once or twice. The water should run clear within a few minutes. (Running warm water forces the orange water into the water heater, and should be avoided to reduce the mixing of the reddish water with stored water. If your laundry is discolored from rusty water, you can purchase a product such as  “Rover” that can help remove temporary laundry coloration. If you have any questions or concerns regarding the hydrant flushing process, city staff are happy to help you. Please call the City of Ann Arbor Field Services Unit at 734.794.6350 or visit this Web page here.