The City of Kalamazoo Public Services Department will begin the Spring Hydrant Flushing Program for 2018 on Sunday, April 15 and continue through Tuesday, April 24. Most of the flushing will be done at night between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. with some additional day flushing between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

Hydrants and mains are flushed twice each year (in the spring and fall) to remove accumulated sediments. While flushing doesn’t affect the safety of the water supply, tap water may appear cloudy or discolored immediately after flushing. If this occurs, residents are advised to run their cold water in their bathtub or utility sink until it runs clear again. Residents are discouraged from using their washing machines the day of flushing and for 24 hours after, since clothing could become discolored.

Periodic flushing is necessary to get rid of deposits that form inside the water mains. Over time, sediment builds up on the inside of water distribution pipes, narrowing the path that water can flow through to individual homes and businesses. Flushing stirs up water in the mains and forces water and sediments out. By widening the path that water can flow through the mains, the flushing program improves water flow, helping the City to better meet the needs of Public Safety fire personnel. Another goal of the flushing program is to verify that all water supply systems are functioning properly, including pumps, storage tanks, mains, valves, and hydrants.

If you have scheduled construction or maintenance projects during this time, please contact Robert McClenney at 337-8148 so that necessary precautions can be taken to avoid conflicts or problems.

pdf 2018 Spring Hydrant Flushing Map (870 KB)

The City of Kalamazoo Parks & Recreation Department is starting the planning process for upcoming improvements to Reed Street Park. Community members are invited to attend a planning meeting on Wednesday, April 25 at 6:00 p.m. at Reed Street Park, located at the corner of Reed Avenue and Portage Street. Kalamazoo Parks & Recreation staff and a landscape architect will be on hand to discuss ideas with community members and answer questions. This is the first of two planning meetings that will be held regarding updates to Reed Street Park. Planning will be completed in 2018 and the park improvement project is scheduled to be completed in 2019.

With spring weather arriving soon, more residents will be commuting by bicycle or enjoying a ride in the city. Remember that city ordinance requires motorists to provide 5 feet of space when passing a cyclist.

Whatever your mode of transportation, please be safe and courteous and share our streets with all users.