Archived News Release: March 28, 2019 - The City of Ann Arbor's annual fire hydrant inspections and system maintenance will begin Tuesday, April 2, 2019. This annual process consists of testing the flow and/or flushing water through selected area hydrants. Residents may observe a fire hydrant with water coming out of the side opening during this spring maintenance. A map of the hydrant flushing/inspection/maintenance areas is available at www.a2gov.org/annarborhydflush. The boundaries shaded in red indicate the current hydrant flushing area(s) (as of April 2, 2019). Any blue-shaded boundaries that appear indicate the areas scheduled next for flushing.
Why is it helpful to know when hydrant flushing and flow testing are happening in your neighborhood? On occasion, the water in your home or businesses may have an orange or rusty appearance. The water is safe to use and drink, but it can cause stains to laundry if the discoloration is not first cleared from the lines. If this occurs, products like “Rover" can help remove temporary laundry coloration. The water discoloration is being caused by iron sediment in the water main being disturbed by the hydrant flushing. If this occurs, please run your COLD water for several minutes and flush your toilet to clear your lines.
Please do not run hot or warm water, as this forces the discolored water into the water heater, mixing it with clear stored water. If you do get rusty water in your hot water tank, it is necessary to drain the hot water tank per the manufacturer's instructions.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding the hydrant flushing process, the city is available to help you. Please call City of Ann Arbor Customer Service at 734.794.6320 or visit www.a2gov.org/departments/public-works/Pages/Hydrant-Flushing.aspx, where you can also subscribe to receive free email updates of the hydrant flushing schedule.
# # # # #
