Gresham Water Quality: Annual Flushing Wednesday

As part of its effort to maintain the quality of its water system, Gresham on Wednesday will conduct its annual system maintenance flushing program in the city's southeast section. By flushing water pipes through the hydrants, it allows for sediments that had built up to be removed.

In addition, the flushing allows crews to identify any malfunctioning valves or problems with the hydrants.

"This is a proactive way of keeping our water clean, our crews trained, and our system operating as it should," said Andrew Degner, City of Gresham Water Resources Regulatory and Operations Manager.

The city wants residents to know that if they see water flowing from a hydrant on Wednesday, not to worry.

Last year crews flushed more than 88 miles of waterline.

City officials caution that the flushing can stir up sediments and cause discoloration.

If customers notice discolored water in their private systems during neighborhood flushing, staff recommends following these steps before running any appliances that require water:

1. Turn on each cold-water faucet and allow the water to run until it's clear again.

2. Flush each toilet two to three times.

3. Still experiencing an issue? Call the Operations Center at 503-618-2626.

The goal of the Water System Flushing Program is to complete one-third of the public water system each year. The Water Division maintains more than 250 miles of waterlines.

Photo City of Gresham