Fire Hydrant Testing February 2019

Per City Fire Chief Paul Siegler:

During the Month of February 2019:

Hydrant Maintenance & Flushing Hydrant Testing Members of the Walterboro Fire Department have implemented a hydrant maintenance and flushing program. Flushing will be conducted throughout the month of February.

Firefighters will verify proper operation of the hydrants, record various pressure readings, conduct basic lubrication, add reflectors to increase visibility, and flush the hydrants to remove sediment from the area. Some issues may arise during the program such as a temporary drop in your water pressure and a temporary change in the color of the water.

Brown Water Some water pipes can accumulate deposits on the inside of the pipe wall. Most of the time, this is not a problem, but changes in water pressure caused by construction activity or the use of fire hydrants can cause these deposits to break loose and dissolve in the water, resulting in discoloration.

Although unpleasant, it's temporary and not harmful. If you have discolored water, you should let your faucet run until the water appears clear. If the problem persists, contact the Walterboro Water System at 843-782-1065.

Program Benefits Routine maintenance will help identify problem hydrants and report issues to Walterboro’s Water System for repair. Identifying these issues early will help to ensure the hydrant is ready for use during an emergency and save critical time during a fire incident. Routine maintenance also helps improve our familiarization with hydrants in the area and allows us to verify they are unobstructed and easily accessible.

Thank you for your understanding as we work in partnership with Walterboro’s Water System to ensure the hydrant’s in your neighborhood are ready for an emergency.