Germantown's fall hydrant flushing started Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Discolored tap water? Run cold water 15 minutes; call if it lasts 4 hours.
Crews began flushing Germantown’s fire hydrants Wednesday, and tap water in some neighborhoods may run low or turn brown for a while. The City of Germantown said both are normal.
The annual fall program started Oct. 28, the city said in a city news release on hydrant flushing. The contractor, Rogers Hydrant Service, is working through the city one neighborhood at a time. The city did not publish a street-by-street schedule or an end date.
When crews are out
- Monday through Friday
- 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Neighborhood by neighborhood across the city
If your water changes
During flushing, homes nearby may see lower water pressure. The city said pressure returns to normal once crews finish in the immediate area.
Water can also turn discolored for a short time. The city’s advice:
- Run a cold-water tap for at least 15 minutes, or until it runs clear.
- If it is still discolored more than four hours after flushing, call Public Works at 901-757-7350.
Why the city does it
Crews are doing three jobs at each hydrant, the city said:
- flushing the water lines
- flow-testing the hydrant for the Fire Department
- inspecting it for repairs
The city has nearly 2,100 public fire hydrants. Checking them helps it meet standards set by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation and the Insurance Services Office, the city said.
What it means for you
- Expect brief low pressure or brown water on a weekday between 7:30 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Run cold water, not hot, until it clears.
- Call Public Works at 901-757-7350 if it has not cleared after four hours.
More from City Hall: trash and recycling and who to call at City Hall.
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