Annual Flushing of Pittsfield Hydrants Kicks Off Next Week

The City of Pittsfield will begin the flushing of hydrants next week.

In a release by Dave Turocy, Department of Public Utilities Commissioner for the City of Pittsfield, the annual flushing of the city's water system will begin Monday, April 9 through the next four weeks. This will be done to remove accumulations of pipeline corrosion products. Mains will be flushed Monday through Friday each week, except holidays, between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.

Turocy says that there are some things that may happen during the flushing you may not be used to. If it does, the DPU will be prepared for it.

"Although flushing may cause localized discolored water and reduced service pressure conditions in and around the immediate area of flushing, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure that proper levels of treatment and disinfections are maintained in the system at all times," Turocy said. "If customers experience discolored water, they should let the water run for a short period to clear it prior to use. If discolored water or low pressure conditions persist, please contact the Water Department at 499-9339."

Here are the areas that may be affected by next week's flushing:

• Service in the Town of Dalton off the Cleveland WTP transmission main, through the town to Coltsville in Pittsfield, including lower Crane Avenue area and Partridge Road.
• The outer Williams Street area easterly of Ann Drive, including the Ann Drive neighborhood, the Mountain Drive area, and those streets northerly of Williams Street.
• Downing Industrial Park and the outer East Street area between the Housatonic River Bridge and Hubbard Ave-Dalton Division Road, to the intersection of Williams Street.
• East New Lenox Road and the Williams Street area between East New Lenox Road and Holmes Road.

The DPU, as well as the City of Pittsfield, apologizes for any inconvenience the flushing may cause.