Hydrant Flushing
Each year the Village of Rhinebeck Water Department flushes water mains by opening hydrants throughout the town and village, as it is a necessity to maintain the water lines in the system. Flushing moves the water through the mains at such a high speed as to loosen the deposits of iron and manganese and remove them from the system. However, flushing stirs up sediment and can result in discolored water in your home. The discoloration is not harmful, and usually will clear up when you let your water run for awhile. At times, homeowners also experience loss of water pressure during the operation because so much water is being diverted to the hydrant. Though flushing can be an inconvenience for some people, our crews do their best to keep the inconvenience to a minimum and, in the long run, customers enjoy clearer water as a result.
Before engaging in a program of flushing, we do our best to alert our customers to the possibility of discolored water. We post notices in the Poughkeepsie Journal prior to and during flushing and we run a message on Channel 23, PANDA, the local cable station as well as our Village website www.rhinebecknyvillage.org. Notices are posted in the Village Hall, sent to our biggest volume customers, but still, some customers are caught unawares and find that their clothes are spotted and discolored. In many cases, rewashing the clothes with Iron-Out when the water is running clear (which is available at local hardware stores), will remove the discoloration.
You may need to flush your hot water tank after we have flushed the water mains. If your hot water continues to be discolored after your cold water has cleared up, flushing your hot water tank is often the answer. Simply attach a garden hose to the outlet at the bottom of your tank and let the water run outside, preferably into a white bucket, until it runs clear. Manufacturers recommend that we flush our hot water tanks twice a year to keep them free of sediment.
We ask everyone's cooperation and patience during this procedure.
Please call the Village Hall 876-7015 if you have any questions. Thank you.
2023 Rhinebeck Water Department flushing schedule is as follows:
OCTOBER 2,3,4,5,6, All areas on the north side of East and West Market Streets, plus Old Post Road, Mt. Rutsen Rd., Village Green Apartments, Wells Manor and The Woods.
OCTOBER 9,10,11,12,13 All areas on the South side of East and West Market Streets, Route 308 East, Violet Hill Estates, Hilee Road and Closs Drive.
OCTOBER 16,17,18,19,20 All areas in Rhinecliff will be done on Monday, Tuesday and possible on Wednesday, as well as Rhinecliff Road, River Road and the Gardens.
Bryan Alix
Chief Water Operator