The City of Kalamazoo will begin hydrant flushing on June 14 and will continue through June 23. Most flushing will take place at night between the hours of 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Day flushing may take place between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. when necessary. 

pdf Hydrant Flushing Map, June 2020 (836 KB)

Public Services Department personnel flush the hydrants and mains twice a year to remove accumulated sediments. Flushing does not affect the safety of the water supply. Tap water may appear cloudy or discolored immediately after flushing. If you notice cloudy or discolored water, please run your cold water until it runs clear again. 

Periodic flushing is necessary to clear 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 will improve water flow to better meet the needs of the community. The flushing program also allows staff to verify that all water supply systems are working correctly such as pumps, storage tanks, mains, valves, and hydrants.

If you have scheduled construction or maintenance projects during this time, please call 3-1-1 or 269-337-8000.

Ongoing enhancements to the municipal water system combined with the high demand for water for firefighting activity this week may cause some Kalamazoo water customers to have cloudy or discolored water. These non-typical conditions have stirred up iron that settles in the water mains, which can cause aesthetic issues.

Iron is naturally occurring in our groundwater and is not harmful to public health, however this may impact the color of customers water temporarily.

This sometimes occurs during regularly scheduled hydrant flushing. Just as with the hydrant flushing program, residents that are experiencing discolored water are advised to run their cold water in a bathtub or utility sink until it becomes clear again. Water customers are also advised to avoid doing laundry until water runs clear. The Department of Public Services is flushing areas of the water system that are affected to address the aesthetic water quality issues that developed this week.

The next scheduled hydrant flushing will take place beginning June 14. During this program, most flushing will occur overnight between 10pm and 6am. Occasional daytime flushing will take place between 7am and 3:30pm.

Currently, large-scale water main construction projects are underway on both Cork Street and Oakland Drive. Public Services is also currently in the process of filling the new 2.5-million-gallon storage take located in the southwest area of the City near US-131, which may affect customers in the Oshtemo and Texas Township areas for approximately the next 12 hours.

Kalamazoo’s water remains safe to drink. The patience of our community is greatly appreciated as needed investments are made in our water system.

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Mayor David Anderson is urging all Kalamazoo residents to join him and Americans across the country in a moment of silence at 3:45 p.m. on Thursday, June 4 for 8 minutes and 46 seconds. If you can, you are encouraged to stop everything you are doing at that time, and take those moments to honor the life of George Floyd.