Fire department to begin flushing, testing fire hydrants

Starting Tuesday, April 3, the City of Pittsburg Fire Department will conduct testing of fire hydrants in neighborhoods across Pittsburg. It takes several months to test the nearly 1,300 fire hydrants inside the City limits, and the process is expected to conclude in June, if weather is favorable.

City of Pittsburg Fire Chief Mike Simons says the fire department conducts these tests each year to ensure water quality for Pittsburg residents.

“Testing and flushing fire hydrants improves the quality of the water our residents use every day,” says Simons. “It also helps us identify any mechanical issues, so that we can ensure that we have good water service during emergencies.”

The fire department gathers flow data on the hydrants, which helps them determine which hydrants are the best to access, when responding to a fire-related emergency.

According to Simons, fire hydrant testing is also required for the City’s ISO (Insurance Service Office) score, which measures the fire prevention and fire suppression capabilities of cities.

“The City of Pittsburg currently maintains an ISO rating of 2 on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the best,” said Simons.

Pittsburg citizens should be advised, the testing and flushing of hydrants can cause some rust to appear in the water for a short amount of time. While there are no health hazards associated with this, it is best to avoid washing white clothing while the testing occurs, to avoid the possibility of stains.

To help inform citizens on their progress, the City will publish daily updates with specific times and locations to City communications channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and local TV cable channel 6. A resource page on the City’s website is also available for residents to access additional information: www.pittks.org/fire-hydrant-flushing.