Assistant fire chief Ron Rein said Abilene is divided into four sections for the flushing processing and he expects firefighters will be working in each section for 2 to 3 days, barring bad weather or heavy rain.
He said that residents living in areas where hydrant flushing is occurring may experience a drop in water pressure 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.
Hydrants that will be flushed in Section 1 are west of Vine Street to the west city limits.
Hydrant flushing, he said, will immediately follow in Section 2, which is north of 10th Street to the north city limits. It will also include areas in the Abilene city limits along Kansas Highway 15 and Xavier and Wassinger Drives.
Flushing in section 3 includes the area from Third-Tenth streets, east of Vine Street to the east city limits.
Section four of the flushing area is east of Vine and south of Northwest Second Street.