Fire hydrant flushing, testing begins Monday

Pittsburg Fire Department to begin flushing, testing fire hydrants on Monday

Starting Monday, April 13, the City of Pittsburg Fire Department will test fire hydrants in neighborhoods across Pittsburg. It takes several months to test the over 1,300 fire hydrants inside the City limits, and the process is expected to conclude in June, if the weather is favorable.

The fire department gathers flow data from the hydrants, which helps them determine which hydrants are best to access when responding to a fire-related emergency.

Fire hydrant testing is also required for the City’s ISO (Insurance Service Office) score, which assesses a city’s fire prevention and suppression capabilities.

Pittsburg citizens should be advised that testing and flushing hydrants can cause some rust to appear in the water for a short time. While there are no health hazards associated with this, it is best to avoid washing white clothing during testing to avoid the possibility of stains.

To help inform citizens about their progress, the City will publish daily updates with specific times and locations on its City communications channels, including Facebook and local TV cable channel 6. A resource page on the City’s website is also available for residents to access additional information: www.pittks.org/fire-hydrant-flushing.