Cold Weather Protection of Your Water Supply
To protect your water lines against the possibility of freezing this winter, consider the following actions:
- Repair broken windows and ensure windows and vents are closed during the winter.
- Insulate water pipes in unheated areas of your home or business, including crawl spaces.
- If a sink is located against an uninsulated outside wall, consider opening the vanity door to allow warm air to reach the water pipes. A light bulb placed near the water pipe may generate enough heat to keep the water flowing. Similarly a heat tape wrapped around the pipe may keep the pipe from freezing.
Residents of mobile homes should check the condition of the heat tape on their water service and water meter. An unheated indoor water meter should be protected with an insulated box and water pipes should be wrapped in insulation and heat tape.
Outside water taps and underground sprinkler systems should have their water supply shut off inside the house at the isolation valve for the tap and sprinkler line. Lines should be drained/blown out.
- A very thin stream of water (as thick as a pencil lead) running continuously from at least one tap will help prevent a frozen water service.
- If you plan to be away from home over the winter period, close the main water isolation valve in your home. This is located next to your water meter.
A frozen water service, or a burst water pipe, is an inconvenience and expense that most people would like to avoid. Please take precautions to prevent this inconvenience in your home or business.
Water Main Flushing Program
This program is one of our most effective maintenance and water quality tools we use to provide safe, clean water to our customers. Environmental Utility crews perform flushing activates during warm weather months, May to October. Cold weather effectively stops this program since icing can produce hazardous conditions.
Why do water mains need to be flushed?
The slow moving water in the water mains allows minerals and sediments to deposit and accumulate over time. These deposits can result in water color and water quality problems. Flushing is a process by which water is moved through a water main at a high velocity so that a scouring action is created. The water is then discharged through a fire hydrant. The goal of this program is to ensure that water quality is maintained at its optimal level and to help with the proper maintenance of the City's water distribution lines. Flushing also enhances fire protection by ensuring that fire hydrants are in working order throughout the area we serve.
How will flushing affect my service?
Water service will not be interrupted when the pipes are flushed. Occasionally, after flushing work is done in your area, you may need to run your taps for a couple of minutes until the water is clear. If this does happen, we recommend that you run your front yard faucet first to clear any remaining sediment out of the service line to the house. Your water may appear dirty for a short period of time, but this is a temporary condition and not a health risk.