Assistant fire chief Ron Rein said Abilene is divided into six sections for the flushing process and has released a tentative schedule that could be affected by bad weather or heavy rain.
Rein said residents living in areas where hydrant flushing occurs may experience a drop in the water pressure in their homes or see cloudy or rusty water coming out of their water pipes.
While the water is safe for drinking or bathing, Rein recommends residents wait a few hours before doing laundry.
“It will take a few hours for the water to clear after we’re gone from an area,” he said.
The first hydrants that will be flushed are in Section 2, which is north of 14th Street to Interstate 70 Highway.
Hydrant flushing, he said, will immediately follow in Section 3, which is Buckeye to Mud Creek and from First to 14th streets.
Flushing in Section 4 is tentatively set to occur May 10 and 11. The boundaries for the section are Buckeye Street to the east city limits from First to 14th Streets.
Flushing in Section 5 will occur on May 14. The section runs south of First Street, and from Mud Creek to the east city limits.
Section 6 includes the area from Mud Creek west to Red Bud Lake. The tentative flushing dates are May 15 and 16.
Rein said flushing in Section 1, which is the area of Abilene is north of Interstate 70, will take place on or around May 17.