Belleville Flush May Temporarily Discolor Water: Officials

BELLEVILLE, NJ — The Belleville Water Department will be performing system flushing, which may cause temporary discoloring to the water supply, town officials announced Thursday.

According to a municipal news release, the work will include the operation of fire hydrants at flow velocities sufficient to remove naturally occurring minerals that have precipitated out of the water and settled.

Belleville officials wrote:

“A hydrant testing and flushing program is very important to the maintenance of the water distribution system because it allows water to flow at a high velocity through the distribution mainlines. This may temporarily discolor the water, so we will be conducting this activity late at night to minimize the effect on consumers. There are no health concerns associated with the minerals that get stirred up, but residents are urged to avoid doing laundry during the flushing operations. The Belleville Water Department will notify residents using the Reverse 911 calling system in advance of the work in their specific areas.”

Belleville officials said hydrant flushing serves the following purposes:

• Enhances long-term water quality by removing sediments from inside the mainline and flushing them out through the hydrant
• Identifies malfunctions of the hydrant and related valve issues
• Helps determine weaknesses in the water distribution system
• Identifies inadequate water volumes and pressures in the mainlines
• Helps determine fire flows at the hydrant

According to Belleville officials, residents may encounter the following conditions during hydrant flushing operations:

• A temporary drop in water pressure to your residence or place of business
• Rusty brown, or cloudy water (These conditions will subside after the flushing is complete)

According to town officials, after the flushing operation is completed residents should:

• Open the cold water faucets and let the water flow until it is clear, turn off the faucets
• Open the hot water faucets and let the water flow until it is clear, turn off the faucets
• When both hot and cold water are clear, the water is ready for use as normal
• Check the faucet screens for trapped particles
• Wash a load or two of dark-colored clothes first

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