PANAMA CITY— The Panama City Utility Department in conjunction with the Panama City Fire Department began flushing fire hydrants in the following areas Wednesday night: west of Frankford Avenue, south of 11th Street to St. Andrew Bay, west of MLK Jr. Boulevard, and east of Harrison Avenue between Eighth Street and 11th Street.
In an effort to minimize the effect on users, the work is being conducted between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m.
The city’s fire hydrant flushing program is part of maintaining potable water mains. It is an essential and necessary function of the maintenance programs and the ongoing effort to deliver the safest and highest quality water possible.
The hydrant flushing program flushes sediments from mainline pipes, verifies proper operation of the fire hydrants; allows the city to test the hydraulic capacity of the water system under controlled conditions, and allows the Fire Department to obtain an accurate estimate of water available in the event of extended firefighting operations
The city released the following questions and answers about the flushing program:
What should I do when hydrants are being flushed in my neighborhood?
* Avoid running tap water and/or using the washing machine or dishwasher until the flushing is complete.
* Slow down and drive carefully while traveling through the flushing work zone.
What should I do after hydrants are flushed in my neighborhood?
* If you encounter discolored water, shut the water off and wait thirty minutes. Then check the water’s clarity by running cold water for a few minutes so that new water works its way into your pipes. If it is still discolored, wait another thirty minutes and check again. In some cases, slight discoloration may be present for a few hours, but the water is safe to drink. The discoloration only affects the appearance of the water; it does not affect the water’s quality.
* Wait until the water runs clear at your tap before washing laundry. Be sure to check hot water supply for sediments. Wash a load of dark clothes first.
* If water pressure or volume seems low; remove your faucet screens and filters to check for trapped sediments.
For more information, please visit our website www.pcgov.org as additional notices for specific neighborhoods and zones will be posted weekly as the program continues or you can contact Sherry Kochevar at (850) 872-3192.