Starting next week, Thomasville Fire Rescue will conduct their annual fire hydrant testing within the Thomasville city limits. Testing involves “flushing” of hydrants, a controlled procedure that helps maintain the City of Thomasville’s water distribution system.
“Flushing of hydrants involves pushing a lot of water through our pipes so we can inspect for hydrant maintenance needs and identify any blockages which could impede our firefighting efforts,” said Fire Rescue Chief Tim Connell. “This process also moves any settled materials like iron from the pipes and improves water clarity.”
All City of Thomasville fire hydrants will be opened up to check for proper water flow rates and proper operation of all valves and mechanical components. As fire hydrants are opened to check their flow rates, citizens may notice that their water may briefly appear slightly cloudy.
“We want our community to know that this testing is taking place so no one is alarmed if they notice cloudy water,” noted Chief Connell. “Temporary discolored water from this process is not a health or safety hazard.”
Residents noticing discolored water should run a water faucet for several minutes until the water is clear again.
The City of Thomasville has over 1,000 hydrants to flush and testing can be delayed due to weather conditions or other scheduled work. Work is scheduled to be completed by the end of May. For additional questions, contact Thomasville Fire Rescue at (229) 227-4099.