Bloomfield Is Flushing Its Fire Hydrants, Brown Water Possible

BLOOMFIELD, NJ — It’s hydrant flushing time in Bloomfield again, town officials announced Monday.

The Bloomfield Fire Department, in partnership with the Bloomfield Engineering Department, has kicked off hydrant flushing (see the schedule for the week of May 8 below).

The “routine, mandatory” maintenance can temporarily cause water to come out of taps brown or discolored. There may also be an unusual odor to the water, municipal officials say.

“These conditions are temporary and will stop once the flushing is done in your area for the day,” a FAQ sheet posted to the town website states.

According to Bloomfield officials:

“If you are experiencing brown or discolored water you should contact the Bloomfield Engineering Department at 973-680-4009. The Engineering Department will confirm if hydrants in your area are being flushed. We do not recommend consuming water that is discolored. If the Engineering Department confirms that this is being caused by a hydrant flushing event, it is recommended you let your water run for several minutes to clear out any sediment. If the discolored water persists for more than half a day, you should contact the Engineering Department.”

Why is hydrant flushing done? Here are two reasons:

• To flush out sediment and rust which accumulate in the pipes of the water system over time
• Make sure all hydrants are operational for firefighting purposes

Learn more about hydrant flushing in 2023 here.

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