Water System Flushing
Town of Culver conducts biannual system flushing to clear out naturally occurring minerals, such as iron and manganese, that over time settle in the water mains. By flushing hydrants, the increased water flow pulls sediments out of the water mains. Removing the sediments helps lengthen the service life of the water mains, preserves water pressure, and prevents discoloration at your water faucet. Flushing keeps the water fresh, improves taste and clarity, and helps make sure the system delivers clean water at the proper pressure for both drinking and public safety purposes. During this process, your water may take on a rusty or orange color. In most cases, running cold water through the faucet closest to your water main for 3-5 minutes will clear the discoloration. You also may use an outside faucet to clear the line.
While not attractive, the water is safe to use. However, you should avoid washing white clothes, towels or bedding to prevent discoloration.
If you have additional questions, please watch the following video that further explains the process and reasons for flushing hydrants.
Valve Exercising
The Town conducts valve exercising in the distribution system to ensure proper function and operation, so that we may continue to provide our customers with reliable water service. The purpose of our valve exercising program is to exercise main line valves throughout the distribution system to assure reliable operation and maintain water quality. The program was designed to serve a multitude of needs. Underground infrastructure is very difficult and costly to replace, developing programs that can help extend the life cycle of underground infrastructure and saves ratepayers a great deal of money over time.
The benefits of the valve exercising program are exponential. The program accurately records detailed valve information, ensures valve reliability in the event of an emergency, allows staff the ability to immediately isolate water lines for main flushing and for main breaks, and results in less staff overtime in dealing with emergency repairs. All of these benefits contribute to less water loss or waste and the least possible water service disruption time to our customers.