Hydrant testing and flushing in Walhalla

Beginning May 1, the Walhalla Fire Department will start testing and flushing more than 200 hydrants in and around the city. This time of year, it’s a common to see fire fighters at work on the hydrants. The maintenance work is necessary to identify any problems and ensure that hydrants produce the needed water during a fire. And the tests are required by the Insurance Service Office, which sets property insurance rates based on fire safety ratings. During testing, there may be pressure drops and discoloration of water, but that’s only temporary. Where there is discolored water, running the water 4-5 minutes usually relieves the problem. To prevent staining, the fire department recommends against washing clothes until the discoloration has cleared.