City of Powell River’s water main flushing program is now taking place in Wildwood.
The program started on Tuesday, September 3, and will run between three and four weeks’ duration.
Manager of operational services Shawn Cator said the city tries to do an area each year. Westview, Townsite and Cranberry have each been done in the last couple of years.
Cator said fire hydrants are opened systematically so if there is any grit or debris that is caught up in the system, it is all flushed out. The city’s water system is flushed from top to bottom. Debris can get caught up in water pipes where there are lower flows. Hydrants, also, can trap debris because they are not used frequently.
“This is an opportunity to flush the system out and make sure the residuals are all good and any material that shouldn’t be in there is flushed out through the hydrants,” said Cator. “It’s also a good check to make sure the hydrants are operational.”
The water that comes out of the hydrants is dechlorinated before it gets into any drainage system. The water being flushed passes through a diffuser because chlorinated water is not ideal for fish and marine habitat.
Cator said people are generally not going to notice the water main flushing.
“It won’t significantly affect any pressures in the house,” he said.
Hours of the program will be from 8 am to 4 pm, Monday through Friday. It takes about 30 minutes to flush each hydrant. The flushing protects and maintains city infrastructure.
Cator said the water main flushing is an important component of a comprehensive water management program and is one of the methods the city uses to help keep drinking water safe and clean.
The process flushes potable water at a high velocity through the water mains to ensure that all piping is refreshed and minor sediment within the pipe is removed.
During the flushing, residents may notice discoloured water or a drop in water pressure.
Residents are asked to limit water use while crews are flushing in their area. Water should not be used for about two hours after the flushing to allow time for the sediment to settle.
Once those two hours are up, residents should run cold water for about five minutes to make sure the water is clear.
