Beginning April 29, 2009, Columbus Fire will begin their annual 3-month program to flush the city?’s 24,000 fire hydrants, Fire Chief Ned Pettus Jr., announced today.
This year, hydrant flushing will be conducted in two phases. Phase I will be conducted April 29, 2009 ?– June 10, 2009 and Phase II will begin June 11, 2009 ?– July 22, 2009.
Hydrant flushing will be performed seven days a week, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Water could become cloudy or rusty during the flushing process, particularly in older neighborhoods. This condition is not a health hazard, and should clear up within 24 hours. However, residents in flushing areas should check their water before doing laundry because discolored water could stain laundered clothing.
Residents can call the Fire Division?’s Hydrant Hot Line at 645-4055 to obtain daily updates listing specific Columbus neighborhoods to be flushed. The Hot Line will be updated at 9:00 a.m. each day throughout the three-moth hydrant maintenance program.
Phase I of hydrant flushing encompasses Columbus areas on the city?’s far Northwest Side including the Tuttle Crossing area and the Fishinger Mill Run area. It will also include the University area, the Clintonville area, Linden area, the city?’s East Side and the South End.
Phase II of the hydrant flushing encompasses Downtown Columbus including German Village and the Near East Side, and city?’s West Side including the Franklinton and Hilltonia area. It will also include the Northeast Side, which includes the Little Turtle area, the Polaris area, the Easton area and the Northland area.
The city?’s hydrants are flushed annually to test their performance and correct any problems that might interfere with their operation.