The annual City of Ankeny fire hydrant flushing will begin this week and continue throughout the spring and summer months. 2,500 hydrants will be flushed on the west side of the city this year. The Ankeny Fire Department will flush all fire hydrants located west of Ankeny Boulevard in both the NW and SW quadrants of the city.
Ankeny's water distribution system consists of hundreds of miles of water main and thousands of fire hydrants. Flushing the water distribution system helps to remove sediment and deposits that may have attached to the walls of the mains or simply settled out of suspension. Hydrants also need to be operated periodically to lubricate the internal mechanisms and check the overall functionality. If a deficiency is discovered during this inspection, most maintenance can be performed immediately. The end result is that the fire hydrants in your neighborhood are available for fire protection if there is ever a need.
Water chemistry can be very complex. Temperature and time can change how water reacts with the water main. Water mains are made of many different materials including cast iron, ductile iron, concrete and polyvinylchloride (PVC). Flushing the water distribution system helps to remove sediment and deposits that may have attached to the walls of the mains or simply settled out of suspension. This is a standard procedure and the water is dechlorinated to protect the environment.
If you are using water when the fire hydrant flushing process is occurring in your neighborhood, the water that we are scouring out of the water distribution system could be drawn into your home’s plumbing system. Although the water may be discolored, smell different and/or have a slightly different taste, it is safe to use. If you experience discoloration of your water supply that doesn't clear after a few minutes of running water, please contact Municipal Utilities Customer Service at 515-963-3565.