MARTINSVILLE, VA – The City of Martinsville Water Resources Department and Martinsville Fire & EMS personnel will be flushing fire hydrants starting on Monday.
As part of a citywide water system and fire hydrant maintenance program, hydrants will be flushed Sunday through Saturday between 4 a.m. and 5 p.m.
The city says individual hydrants will be inspected more closely and repaired, if necessary, over several weeks after flushing is completed.
Weather permitting, the city departments will follow this schedule:
July 10-14: All areas north of Jones Creek, beginning in the vicinity of the city's water treatment plant on Clearview Drive and continuing on Barrows Mill Road, Greyson Street, Liberty Street, Stultz Road, and all adjacent streets, including Northside Drive and Memorial Hospital
July 17-21: Liberty Fair Mall and Commonwealth Boulevard to Memorial Boulevard, entire Chatham Road including all adjacent streets, beginning at Commonwealth Boulevard and continuing outside the city to Woodhaven Road, plus streets in the Bethel Lane area
July 31- Aug 4: Uptown areas from Memorial Boulevard to Starling Avenue, including Church Street, Main Street, Fayette Street, Market Street and all adjacent streets
Periodic flushing is necessary to clear normal sediment from lines and ensure that the hydrants are functional for fire protection purposes, according to the city.
Officials say because sediment will be disturbed, some dingy water can be expected, but the dinginess should disappear in a short time.
Any persistent cloudiness can usually be cleared by briefly opening all faucets in the building simultaneously.
Residents are cautioned to avoid clothes washing if they are aware of hydrants being flushed nearby.
While any sediment stirred up has been disinfected by chlorine in the water supply, the dinginess can still stain clothes if it is drawn into the washing machine in sufficient quantity, officials said.
Flushing schedules will be announced later for remaining portions of the city.
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