Fw: Burlington Water Resources: Annual Hydrant Flushing for 2026
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Our records indicate that you own, manage or lease a property in Burlington and may be interested in water quality disturbances. Burlington Water Resources plans to begin inspecting and flushing all fire hydrants as soon as tomorrow Wednesday 5/6/26. This annual event is a vital component of our preventative maintenance plan to ensure the distribution system is delivering the best possible water and all hydrants are in working order. The current schedule shows us beginning flushing exercises at the Water Treatment Plant on Penny Lane and then heading north along the bike path. Please review the details below and share with anyone who lives or works at your property.
Process Description
Field Services will be conducting most flushing exercises during the work week between 7:30-2:30 and will be in a clearly marked DPW vehicle. We will visit each fire hydrant, attach a diffuser to the outlet, open it fully and flow the water at a high velocity until it clears. A diffuser is attached to the hydrant so our sidewalks, roads and unpaved surfaces are not damaged by the velocity. The flushing route is optimized so each water main (major and minor) is completed along with the related side streets before advancing to another area. The condition of the hydrant and relevant flushing details are electronically recorded onsite and updated to GIS in real time. We will be exercising over 900 hydrants and expect the process to take approximately four months. Please note, we will be conducting flushing exercises at night in areas of the City under active construction to ensure the safety our employees and to avoid disrupting the work zone.
Customer Impacts
Residents can expect localized discoloration at the tap and fluctuating water pressure while the hydrants closest to them are being operated. Properties located in the vicinity of several hydrants may be impacted to a greater extent. Discoloration occurs when the naturally forming minerals and sediments that accumulate in water mains are disturbed by the flushing process. Water throughout the distribution system will remain safe to drink; however, we recommend waiting until water quality is restored before using it for drinking or laundry. This will ensure you are receiving the best possible water and will eliminate the possibility staining clothing or drawing sediment into the hot water tank. In order to restore water clarity, we advise running a cold water tap for several minutes or until the discoloration is gone. This is most effective when done after we have finished flushing the hydrant(s) in the immediate area.
Resources & Questions?
We will post the daily flushing schedule on our website and you can also track our real time progress through an interactive hydrant map. These tools and other relevant information about hydrant flushing including an FAQ can be found by visiting burlingtonvt.gov/water/Hydrants. If you have additional questions or concerns, please reach out to us at water-r...@burlingtonvt.gov or call us at 802-863-4501. We appreciate your support during this critical annual maintenance event.
Thank You.
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Customer Care, Billing & Metering Services
Water Resources Division | City of Burlington
235 Penny Lane | Burlington, VT 05401
P (802) 863-4501 | F (802) 864-8233