CHARLESTOWN, Ind. — Starting Monday, July 6, Indiana American Water will begin conducting water main flushing in Charlestown, Indiana, according to a press release. The company said water service should not be interrupted during the month-long process, but residents may notice discolored water and a possible drop in water pressure.
According to Bill Reedy, operations manager for Indiana American Water, the work was originally scheduled for March, but the coronavirus pandemic postponed the process. The company said it is moving forward with the flushing now because some recent fires and an unexpected need to replace a section of water main have stirred up sediment. The water main flush will remove that sediment from the distribution system.
“While customers are likely to see even more discolored water while we are flushing the system over the next month or so, their water quality should begin to improve as we complete our work,” Reedy said.
According to Indiana American Water, the flushing will normally take place between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Customers should not do laundry or run their dishwasher if they see crews flushing hydrants in their neighborhood.
If customers notice discolored water, the company recommends turning on several cold-water faucets for 10 to 15 minutes to clear the water. While the discolored water is safe to drink, the company said customers can store some water for drinking or cooking before crews begin the flushing process.
Once the system flush is finished, all Charlestown customers are encouraged to flush their interior plumbing and hot water heaters with cold water. The company will give customers a credit to compensate for the water used to flush their internal plumbing.
The water main flushing is part of a multi-million-dollar process to improve the water in Charlestown. Some residents have reported issues with discolored water for years, even decades. Indiana American Water purchased the Charlestown water system in March 2019 and promised to invest at least $7 million into making improvements over the next five years.
Indiana American Water said the company plans to flush the water mains in Charlestown at least twice each year. The most recent system flushing was finished in the fall of 2019.
Customers with questions can call the Customer Service Center at 1-800-492-8373.
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