Information About Flushing

Water Main Flushing

A flushing crew is scheduled to work throughout the Water District annually from March to June. Schedule permitting, we also flush September thru December. The crew works between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

What is the Water Main (Hydrant) Flushing Program?

To improve water quality and minimize discoloration, the Mashpee Water District water mains are comprehensively flushed by a technique known as unidirectional flushing. The procedure is performed in warm-weather months and involves the systematic opening and closing of hydrants, one section of main at a time, to force the water through the pipes at high velocity, removing accumulated mineral sediment until the water is clear. Unidirectional flushing differs from conventional flushing in that it involves the closing of adjacent valves and the use of a single hydrant per flush so as to isolate individual sections of main.

How Will Flushing Affect Water Service?

When flushing close to your residence or business, you may experience periods of very low pressure or even a complete stoppage of service. We attempt to notify customers in advance if flushing is expected to result in a complete water outage, but such outages are rare.

Flushing operations may also lead to discolored water, which can be drawn into homes and businesses if the water is being used during or immediately following the flushing. Such events should affect customers for a few hours at most. The discoloration is caused by iron (red color) or manganese (black color) particles being dislodged from the water main which can stain porcelain and laundry. If discoloration occurs, open the cold tap nearest the water meter—usually a basement sink—to full flow until the water runs clear. In some situations this may take 5 to 10 minutes. It is also advised that you make sure your water is clear before doing laundry or other projects for which discolored water could cause problems.

A precise schedule of flushing operations is difficult to determine more than a day or two in advance. If you wish to be notified before work will be done in your area, please contact the Mashpee Water District at: (508) 477-6767.
We ask for your patience and understanding during this critical main cleaning process.