The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities will begin its two-week schedule of fall flushing of water mains on Oct. 6.
Flushing should be finished by Oct. 18.
Flushing will begin first, as usual, in the village of Falconer at 9 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 6, overnight into Sunday until the entire village is flushed. A short "pre-flush" of water lines in the Valmeer, Mapleshade and Ralph areas of Falconer will occur in the daytime Thursday and Friday, Oct. 4 and 5; residents in that area of Falconer should avoid doing wash those days.
Once Falconer flushing is completed, crews will move into the rest of the water system, beginning at 8 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 7, progressing into the extreme northeast section of Jamestown, near Jamestown Community College and the Lutheran Social Services campus. Flushing will continue, weather-permitting, from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Sundays through Thursdays until flushing is completed with the last night expected to occur on Thursday, Oct. 18.
The BPU flushes water mains each fall and spring by systematically opening hydrants and allowing the water to run full force, flushing out sediment and minerals that have accumulated in the pipes. The process cleans the water lines and helps maintain good water flow through the mains. During flushing, BPU water operators also inspect valves and hydrants to maintain them for top performance in fire protection. Flushing is a safe, cost-effective alternative to adding chemicals to our water to clean it.
To inform customers when and where flushing occurs each evening, the BPU now posts daily flushing locations on its website at www.jamestownbpu.com with actual maps on the homepage showing flushing locations by date. In addition, locations are posted on the BPU's FACEBOOK and Twitter pages, on Page A2 of The Post-Journal, on the Time Warner Weather Channel Crawl and on radio stations SE93, WJTN, WHUG, WKSN, 106.9-FM and WRFA.
Customers should take note of media reports of when crews are flushing in their neighborhoods to avoid drawing discolored water into their hot water heating systems, washing machines and dishwashers. During flushing, water direction changes, moving sediment out of the pipes and stirring the water, causing it to appear discolored. The water is safe to use, but its appearance is not pleasing.
Customers who don't run water or flush toilets from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. during the flushing process probably will not notice any discolored water in their homes or buildings. Residents may want to put aside water for drinking or cooking during the overnight hours and make a conscious effort not to flush or open faucets between 8 p.m. and 4 a.m.
If laundry is discolored as a result of water main flushing, customers should not dry the laundry, but instead rewash it in a rust stain remover available free-of-charge at BPU Customer Service or for sale at local supermarkets and hardware stores. Customer Service is open from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. weekdays at 92 Steele St.
Customers who may be uncertain about when their areas will be flushed may call Becky Robbins, BPU communications coordinator, at 661-1666 or email her at brobbins@jamestownbpu.com. Customers who are transferred to voice mail when they call should leave their addresses and telephone numbers so that Mrs. Robbins can call them back with their flushing dates.
For more information or any questions about flushing, call Mrs. Robbins at 661-1666.