Main Menu Close Menu

mail Contact

Search Close

Translate

Department

Community Development

Department

Community Response

Department

Convention and Cultural Services

Department

Finance

Department

Fire Department

Department

Human Resources

Department

Information Technology

Department

Mayor and Council

Department

Office of Public Safety Accountability

Department

Office of the City Attorney

Department

Office of the City Auditor

Department

Office of the City Clerk

Department

Office of the City Manager

Department

Office of the City Treasurer

Department

Police Department

Department

Public Works

Department

Utilities

Department

Youth, Parks, & Community Enrichment

Category

hiking Activities

Arts & Culture

Camps

Classes & Group Activities

Community Centers

Events & Entertainment

Sports

Swimming

Category

pets Animals & Pets

Animals & Pets

Category

domain_add Building & Planning

Construction

Inspections

Planning

Property Lines & Surveying

Zoning

Category

store Business

Business

Cannabis

Economic Development

Innovation

Suppliers & Vendors

Category

account_tree City Administration

Accountability & Oversight

Boards & Commissions

City Attorney

City Manager

City Structure & Policies

Customer Service

Elections

Mayor & City Council

Transparency

Category

category City Assets & Data

City Buildings & Property

City Vehicles

Records

Transparency

Category

explore City Regions

Council Districts

Neighborhoods

Property Lines & Surveying

Zoning

Category

diversity_4 Community Support

Accessibility

Community Centers

Community Engagement

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Homelessness

Housing

Older Adults

Volunteering

Youth

Category

theater_comedy Culture & History

Arts & Culture

Events & Entertainment

Sacramento History

Category

business_center Employment

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

Employees & Retirees

Employment

Volunteering

Workforce Development

Category

directions Infrastructure

Bridges

Drinking Water

Information Technology

Infrastructure Finance

Stormwater & Flooding

Streets & Roads

Trails

Wastewater & Sewer

Category

gavel Law, Code & Compliance

Code Enforcement

Inspections

Law & Code

Permits

Category

payments Money

Accounting

City Budget

Claims, Rebates & Discounts

Debt Management

Economic Development

Grants

Infrastructure Finance

Investment & Cash Management

Payments & Fees

Taxes

Category

park Outdoors & Sustainability

Bicycles

Boating

Camps

Climate & Sustainability

Parks

Scooters

Sports

Swimming

Trails

Trees

Weather

Category

local_police Safety

Alternative Response

Crime

Emergency Management

Emergency Response

Fire

Inspections

Police Department

Prevention & Personal Safety

Stormwater & Flooding

Weather

Category

directions_car Transportation

Bicycles

Boating

Driving

Electric Vehicles

Parking

Public Transportation

Scooters

Traffic

Walking

Category

delete_sweep Utility Services

Drinking Water

Recycling

Trash

Wastewater & Sewer

Back to categories Back to Departments

Search for content

SITE NAVIGATION

Utilities Projects

Water Flushing

Utilities Projects

Water Flushing

A street sign that says "Water Quality Maintenance"

open_in_full

The Department of Utilities recently started a program to maintain high quality drinking water by “flushing” water pipes to restore fresh water and remove sediment and deposits from the City’s water distribution system.

City staff flush pipes by releasing water from fire hydrants to:

Remove sediment and unwanted minerals from the water distribution system
Replace old water with fresh water
Remove organic matter that can build up over time inside pipes

The City uses a method of flushing where the water origin, direction, and speed of flow is carefully engineered to ensure proper cleaning of the pipe.

This process helps reduce taste and odor issues, and helps maintain valves and hydrants.

How water pipes are flushed

Frequently asked questions

Why is flushing important?

Most of the City’s drinking water comes from the Sacramento and American rivers.

Although drinking water is fully treated, sediment and other deposits slowly build up inside the water pipes over time.

Flushing helps remove deposits and will help improve the taste, odor, and color of drinking water.

It also reduces biofilm, which is a thin layer of microorganisms that can grow on the inside of the pipes.

Flushing also helps to identify broken or inoperable valves and hydrants, which is important to ensure they work properly in an emergency.

What does flushing look like?

Flushing requires the opening and closing of hydrants and valves to ensure that water moves through pipe segments for effective cleaning.

Customers may notice water coming out of fire hydrants for several minutes while City staff flush them.

Often, a Utilities vehicle will be nearby.

Drivers should use caution when crews are in the area or you see water in the road.

Is flushing a waste of water?

No. Flushing is part of overall maintenance of a distribution water system to maintain high quality drinking water, improve capacity of pipes, and ensure hydrants and valves work properly.

Will I notice water changes to my drinking water? Some people may notice temporary discolorations or taste and odor changes during and up to a day following flushing.

You should not see any changes to your water supplies, including changes to water pressure.

Can I use my water during flushing?

Customers may avoid running appliances, like washing machines, until flushing is completed in your neighborhood.

This will prevent discolored water from entering a household.

If you notice discolored water, run cold water from one faucet for two to three minutes to see if it clears.

If it does not clear, wait an hour and try again.

Contact us

Questions can be emailed to DOUPIO@cityofsacramento.org.

If you experience issues during a flushing event, please contact 3-1-1

ON THIS PAGE