Alerts
By: Sutton StokesMay 17, 2022

Hydrant Flushing Starts Monday

Starting Monday, Elkins Water Board employees will be opening fire hydrants to flush out city water lines. During this time, it will be normal to see unattended fire hydrants spraying water under pressure. Customers may experience temporary discoloration that should clear up within minutes or hours.

On a biannual basis, water board employees open fire hydrants to flush water lines of accumulated sediments that can cause discoloration in customers’ homes and other buildings. To flush the lines, water system workers systematically open fire hydrants and let the water flow at full force until water appears clear in a white paper cup.

This work will proceed by sections, starting at elevation on Reservoir Hill, above the Wees District, and working westward across the city. The city will use its social media channels, email alert list, and website to announce which sections of the city will be flushed each day. The information will also be supplied to the media.

After flushing is complete in each section of the city, the Elkins Fire Department will perform flow testing on each hydrant to verify that they are operating according to specifications. Although flow testing only requires hydrants to be open for a few minutes, it takes longer than flushing because each hydrant must be tested. Flushing does not require opening every hydrant, because many sit near each other on the same line.

Even though the overall goal of the flushing is to reduce sediment in water lines, customers in or near a section of the city that is being flushed may temporarily experience heightened discoloration in their water. This does not indicate that the water is unsafe to drink, cook with, or bathe in, but it would be advisable to avoid doing laundry until any remaining sediment has settled once again.

Customers experiencing cloudy or discolored water can try leaving taps open in a bathtub or sink for 20 minutes. It is important not to run hot water, however, as that would fill the building’s water heater with water that contains sediments.

To keep up with City of Elkins news and announcements about this and other topics, bookmark our website (www.cityofelkinswv.com), sign up for email and text alerts (www.cityofelkinswv.com/emergency-text-notifications), and follow us via Facebook (www.facebook.com/elkinscityhall) or Twitter (www.twitter.com/elkinscityhall).

Press Release

Ribbon Cutting Event for Pizza Hut Arcade

Elkins W. Va., March 26, 2024: On Tuesday, Elkins Pizza Hut announced the grand opening of its brand-new arcade, enhancing the dining experience with family fun for all ages. General Manager Michael Armstrong spearheaded the initiative to reintroduce video games into the […]

Read More
Article, Press Release

Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Information

Elkins W. Va., March 22, 2024: At Thursday’s meeting, Elkins City Council unanimously approved a General Fund budget for Fiscal Year 2025 that is about $600,000 more than the FY 2024 budget and maintains the city’s property-tax rates at current levels. Fiscal […]

Read More
Announcements, Article, Press Release

Elkins Launches New Emergency Notification System

Elkins W. Va., March 20, 2024: The City of Elkins is pleased to announce the implementation of a new mass notification system aimed at strengthening emergency communication capabilities within the community. This system will enable the city to disseminate crucial information to […]

Read More
Article, Press Release

City of Elkins Successfully Removes 11 Dilapidated Structures with DLAP Grant Funding

Elkins W. Va., March 18, 2024: The City of Elkins announces the successful demolition of 11 dilapidated structures throughout the city, made possible through grant funding provided by the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection (WVDEP) under the Dilapidated Properties Program (DLAP). […]

Read More
Boil Water Notices, Press Release, Street Closures

Road Closure on 3rd St. in Downtown Elkins

Elkins W. Va., March 14, 2024: One lane of 3rd St. in downtown Elkins will be closed beginning March 18. Contractors will block off one side of the street as they repair the fire escape on the Wilt Building. Flaggers will be […]

Read More
Article, Press Release

Elkins Receives Clean Audit for Fiscal Year 2023

Elkins W. Va., March 8, 2024: City of Elkins received high marks on its latest annual audit, Elkins City Treasurer Tracy Judy reported to council last night. West Virginia cities must undergo yearly audits, per state law. This audit, which examined financial […]

Read More
Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Stay up to date with the latest news and alerts by signing up for our newsletter!

You have Successfully Subscribed!