Virginia American Water has scheduled its annual hydrant flushing to begin in Alexandria on Sunday, April 6, through the end of May. The routine work flushes out mineral deposits and sediment from water mains.
The flushing will be performed Sunday evenings through Friday mornings between 8:30 p.m. and 5 a.m. During the work, crews will open the fire hydrants and allow them to flow freely for a short period of time. The flushing is being performed in conjunction with a routine change in the form of chlorine used for disinfectant in the water treatment process by Fairfax Water, Virginia American Water’s bulk water supplier. Fairfax Water implements this change from April through July.
Because of this treatment process change, customers might notice a slight chlorine taste and odor in their drinking water. No interruptions in water service will occur as a result of the work.
If water is discolored, customers should let the cold water run to clear before using it again and refrain from doing laundry during that time. Before doing laundry, check for discolored water. If problems persist or customers have questions, call Virginia American Water’s toll-free, 24-hour customer service line at 800-452-6863.