Hydrant Flushing Wednesday in Brewster

BREWSTER, NY — Brewster village crews will be flushing fire hydrants on Wednesday.

It's part of the village's continual work to keep the pipes clear and clean of sediments. Here's a great FAQ from Village Clerk Peter Brewster Hansen that explains the what and why:

What is it that makes the water turn orange when they flush the hydrant?

Minerals – Primarily Iron & Manganese

The Village of Brewster supply source is ground water drawn from five sand and gravel wells.The semiannual hydrant flushing purges the system of the accumulated settlement of these minerals suspended in the ground water.

Opening the hydrants and increasing the water flow causes the disturbance of this settlement so that it may be flushed from the system.

Iron & Manganese are considered by the Dept. of Health as “aesthetically objectionable” and are part of a “Secondary Standard” for testing.

They are not considered a health concern and have no notification requirements unless they are found in a combined concentration greater than .5 milligrams per liter.

While reporting requirements are in MG/L testing results are reported in micrograms per liter not milligrams per liter.

Dividing by 1000 will give the conversion from microgram to milligram.

The Village tests quarterly for Fe & Mn and I have included the last three test results for your review. February 2016 Iron = .19 mg/l Mang = .07 mg/l = combined reportable valve of .26 mg/l. November 2015 = .27 mg/l August 2015 = .27 mg/l

Does running the tap water make it clear up faster?

No. To the contrary, running the water prolongs the turbulence in the system. The best thing to do is use as little water as possible for 12 to 24 hours so the system has a chance to settle out and clear.

Why does my toilet run after hydrant flushing?

Sometimes tiny particulate gets caught under the flush valve seal in the toilet holding tank preventing it from sealing tightly. The same can be true for washers and aerators (strainers) in faucets. Make sure your faucets and toilets are not leaking and are unobstructed after hydrant flushing. If you have strainers on washer supply hoses you should also check them but refraining from doing laundry for a 24 to 48 hour period from October 5th is recommended.