Ankeny Fire Hydrant Maintenance to Begin April 1

From a city of Ankeny news release:

The City of Ankeny Municipal Utilities Department announced today that fire hydrant flushing will get underway beginning April 1 and ending in late May. The hydrant flushing will occur in the southeast quadrant of Ankeny this year.

An online map has been created and will be updated daily to identify where hydrant flushing is occurring. Residents living in the affected area are urged to be aware of the flushing in their respective area and that temporary water discoloration could be a possible result.

"We are asking residents to be patient and cooperate with us during this process," said Water Supervisor Shawn Buckner. "If customers see a discoloration in their water, we would ask them to let the water run two to three minutes or until the discoloration disappears."

Hydrant flushing is necessary to assure that water quality is maintained at the highest level and that fire protection can be depended upon in an emergency. During this process, residents may see water running out of fire hydrants and into the storm drains for up to 15 minutes for each hydrant. During this time, the water is safe to use and drink, but it can cause stains to laundry if the discoloration is not first cleared from the lines.

More information about the City's hydrant flushing program is available online or call 515.965.3565.