2019 Water Main and Hydrant Flushing Program
City of Glens Falls, NY
Water and Sewer Department
The water main & fire hydrant flushing program is scheduled to begin on Monday, April 8, 2019. Our water main & hydrant flushing program is very important to our water system. It is an integral part of our efforts to deliver the safest and highest quality water possible. A clean water distribution system also reduces taste and odor issues and results in better appearing water. Hydrant flushing also improves fire protection by testing water valves and hydrants. The flushing work is carried out in warm-weather months by Water and Sewer Department work crews, who systematically open and close fire hydrants on one section of main at a time, letting the water run at high velocity until sediment is carried out of the water main and the water is clear. Flushing starts at the northwest corner of the City and proceeds south towards the Hudson River.
Water service should not be disrupted during the flushing process. Flushing serves the following purposes:
- Flushing dislodges and removes mineral deposits that accumulate in the water mains.
- It flushes sediments from mainline pipes
- Flushing verifies the proper operation of fire hydrants and valves
- Flushing helps us find weaknesses in our water system
- Flushing checks for closed valves and weak flows in the water mains
We schedule our flushing program during the months when water supplies are plentiful. We flush from larger mains first, and then move to smaller mains. The flushing route is carefully planned, and valves are opened and closed to control the direction of the water.
The program typically is a 10 to 15 day process. Completion of the program is expected to be sometime during late April. Changes to this timetable may be required, if other maintenance issues should arise such as system leaks, water quality concerns, sewer problems, etc.
Flushing Notices will be printed in local newspapers and posted in municipal buildings. Areas being affected by the flushing process will have flushing signs placed throughout each neighborhood as a reminder approximately 24 hours in advance of when the fire hydrants in their neighborhoods are scheduled to be flushed.
Flushing will take place between 8AM and 5:30 PM, Monday through Friday. We urge all residents to use caution while traveling around the hydrant flushing crews and while entering areas of water accumulation during this program.
When fire hydrants are opened, there will be temporary incidences of discolored water while fine sediment particles are flushed out. There is no health hazard associated with the discolored water. Allow a few hours for discoloration to dissipate. To verify water is clear, run your cold-water tap for a few minutes.
If you notice your water is discolored, run several cold-water faucets at the same time until the water runs clear. Avoid using hot water if the water is discolored. Avoid doing laundry until you’re sure the water is clear. If laundry becomes stained by discolored water, do not dry or bleach the laundry, call our office at the number below for assistance.
Your understanding and cooperation are appreciated during this operation. If you wish additional information or would like to discuss this program with Water and Sewer Department staff, please contact the office during business hours, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at (518) 761-3850.
City of Glens Falls Water & Sewer Department
What to Do If Iron Stains Do Occur on Clothes
If you notice rust or iron stains on clothes when taking them from the washer, don't dry them in the dryer before treating the stains. Heat sets the stains and makes them difficult or impossible to remove. Here are some things to try: 1) rewash the clothes immediately in clear water with a heavy-duty detergent. If the water in your water system is still discolored, do re-laundering at a coin-operated laundry or at another residence where the water is clear.
Caution: Do not dry stained items in a dryer, do not iron them before treating the stains, and do not use chlorine bleach. Heat and chlorine bleach make the problem worse.
If the stain is not removed by the first method, try a more drastic treatment.
2) Launder with a commercial rust remover (such as RoVer®, RED-B-GONE®, Rit Rust Remover®, Iron-Out®, Miracle-Rid-Iron®, or Whink®). The important ingredient in these compounds is an acid-usually oxalic or hydrofluoric acid. The remover ingredients combine with the iron and loosen it from the fabric, then hold it in suspension in the wash water. The compounds are poisonous if ingested. Use them carefully according to the manufacturers' directions, and rinse the clothes thoroughly. Acid remaining deteriorates fabrics.
Commercial rust removers are intended for use only on white or colorfast fabrics. Test colored clothes for colorfastness before attempting to remove rust stains with commercial removers. Caution/Danger: Commercial Rust Remover Products contain oxalic or hydrofluoric acids or other chemicals which can cause skin or eye irritation, burns, or poisoning. Use with care and according to the product package.
How to Test For Colorfastness
Follow any instructions for colorfastness testing provided on rust remover product package. If no instructions are given, follow the procedure outlined here.
To determine the effect of an iron stain remover on the dye in a fabric, test the fabric with the remover in the concentration recommended for iron stain removal. If you can control the spread of the solution, put a drop of the solution on the edge of a seam allowance or the edge of a hem (let out a short length of the hem) which would be hidden inside the item. Let stand for one or two minutes, then blot dry. If no color change occurs, the dye is probably colorfast to the iron stain removal compound and it should be safe to use on that fabric. (You may prefer to be safe and just snip off a small piece of the fabric from the inside seam or hem allowance of a stained item for testing fastness of the dye.)
Rinse clothes well after treatment with iron stain removers!