What are your thoughts on fire hydrant flushing?

The Wareham Fire District Board of Water Commissioners is discussing the annual practice, and wants to know what changes residents might like to see.

The Water Department flushes hydrants every year as part of its valve maintenance and water quality programs. It recently finished this year's flushing program.

The water system is divided into 36 flushing districts, and residents receive a phone call via the reverse-911 system when flushing will be done in their neighborhood.

When flushing is going on, water that comes out of the taps may appear brown and soiled.

"Flushing causes a lot of dirty water complaints, so we try to give as much advanced notice as possible," says Water Department Superintendent Mike Martin. "It takes three men about 10 weeks to flush the entire 165 miles of piping — 1,200 hydrants — and we use 8 million gallons of water."

The Water Commissioners are considering switching to evening or nighttime flushing for all or part of the system. Additionally, they are hoping to determine whether residents are provided sufficient notice and hear about any inconveniences the flushing causes for water users.

Live in the Wareham Fire District and want to weigh in? Contact Martin at michaelamartin@verizon.net.

The flushing program was designed in 2006 by engineering firm Haley and Ward using hydraulic computer modeling, Martin said. It cost $50,000.

Martin admitted that he was initially skeptical about the flushing program due to the man-hours required, water used, dirty water complaints, and the possibility of damaging valves, but noted: "The program has been very successful and has helped in valve maintenance, operator knowledge of the water system, and water quality. We definitely got a positive return on our investment."