The City of Sparta will begin its annual system-wide water flush Monday, a routine but essential process for the city’s water system.
Sparta Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the flushing is required each year by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. Quick said a system-wide flush ultimately improves water quality.
“Sometimes the water quality, the chlorine levels will go down as the water goes out into the system,” Quick said. ” And so, when you flush the system, it makes sure that you have the adequate amount of chlorine in the system.”
Quick said it will take about a month to complete the system-wide flush, and water service will not be disrupted. As part of the flush, Quick said fire hydrants will be inspected and serviced.
“You have to oil those,” Quick said. “There is something called fire hydrant oil that we have to buy. It’s that way that if there is a fire or an emergency that you have to use the fire hydrant, that the fire hydrant actually works as it should, because sometimes you can go to a fire hydrant and either it won’t turn on, it won’t turn off, or if you get it on, you can’t get it off, the valve won’t seat.”
Quick said residents may notice hydrants running for extended periods, sometimes up to two hours, depending on water pressure, but officials say this is normal and necessary.
“If the residents see fire hydrants flowing, it’s for a reason,” Quist said. “We’re not running water out on the ground for no reason.”
Quick said the system is flushed by running water out of the fire hydrants. Quick said to please avoid reporting issues of fire hydrants that are running water unless they run for an excessive amount of time.