In a modern world where topics such as; “energy conservation,” “environmental friendliness,” “going green,” “resources conservation,” and the like are commonly discussed issues, one may ask themselves, “Why is the City of Ironton wasting water from fire hydrants?”

It really does seem a bit counterproductive. We talk about water as being a valuable resource and how important it is to conserve, and here we go, dumping it on the streets thousands of gallons at a time. So, the question comes, why on earth are we doing this? The answer is simple; we do this to provide you, the consumer, with the highest quality of water possible.

Many citizens have been dealing with discolored water, and are surely laughing at the mention of “highest quality of water possible.” This is completely understandable. Although this is something that will continue to be a problem, there are actions we can take to minimize the issue in the future. It is completely natural to expect a corrosive substance like water to cause rust in an iron pipe.

That being noted, the rust in your water is natural. Can we feasibly remove all of the iron pipe that supplies your water to your home?

That will not happen anytime soon, that much is certain. However, what we can do is follow a plan of action regarding the maintenance of our water system. The “highest quality of water possible” will be a fact once this flushing maintenance plan becomes common practice.

We do have a plan to improve our water quality. On the calendar are scheduled flushings for the weeks of Oct. 3, 2016, and March 27, 2017. Planned future flushings are scheduled to occur two times annually, in both fall and spring.

The biannual flushing is recommend by the Ohio EPA, and is the plan we intend to follow.

Please be aware that the temporary inconvenience during flushing is a part of the plan. It is an unavoidable, yet necessary approach to improving water quality.

You have an opportunity to improve water quality in your home as well. Some areas of stagnant water within the home could exist.

Common examples would be a bathroom that isn’t used often, or a water heater that hasn’t been flushed regularly.

The same physical characteristics exist in the water distribution system. As we are taking the steps to improve the water quality, this will be a good time for you to assess your home for any issues mentioned above.

Please make note that we will begin our next round of hydrant flushing on Oct. 3-8 through from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Should you experience discolored water when doing laundry, the Water Administration office will provide you a free cup of rust removing powder.

We truly appreciate your patience as we work through this issue.

Ryan Watts, Superintendent
Ironton Water Treatment Plant