Columbia Water flushes fire hydrants throughout the water system on a daily basis. Our system has more than 2,400 miles of pipe carrying water throughout the midlands. The water that you use at your home or business is transported through a series of tanks,
pump stations, and pipes every time you turn on a faucet or flush the toilet. But even with high use, it can take water up to a week to turn over in some service locations.
If water sits too long in pipes without moving, it begins to get stagnant. Chemicals are added to the water at the treatment plants to keep the water fresh in the distribution system, but if the water sits too long, customers can end up with smelly or discolored water.
Turning on hydrants in key areas in our system helps move water in areas where use might be low or where water quality issues have been reported. The hydrants run for a period of time based on the issue being addressed. The overall quality of the water is monitored by our technicians during the flushing process.