Next week (Oct. 26, 2021), Pierre will start a process needed to clean out the city’s water lines in preparation for the new water treatment plant coming online next year.
Project manager Gidget Palmer says the unidirectional flushing pipe cleaning process involves using water pressure to remove any material that has collected in the pipes.
After the pipes are flushed, Palmer says the water is usable, but she recommends doing a number of things to protect your home and appliances that use water.
Palmer says the unidirectional water line flushing will start at the Snake Butte Reservoir north of Pierre and work its way south through a total of six zones using a rolling schedule.
The entire process is expected to take several weeks. A secondary flushing of the pipes will be done at a later date.
To receive a personal notification of when work will be done in your neighborhood, people should visit public.alertsense.com and register with a physical address. The registered address will be used to identify and notify people via email or text when flushing has started in their area.
In 2018, Pierre voters approved the city spending $37.5 million to build a drinking water treatment facility. Surface water from the Missouri River will be treated at the new plant, replacing the underground aquifer currently used as Pierre’s water source. The new water is expected to start flowing next summer (2022).
Things to be aware of:
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The flushing process can cause temporary water discoloration. Despite any temporary color change, the water can be used for drinking and bathing.
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To clear discolored water, run cold water, preferably from an outside spigot, until the water color returns to normal.
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Consider waiting to use home filtering systems, water softeners, dishwashers or washing machines until the water runs clear.
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Pressure variations during the flushing process may cause some fire suppression systems to alarm.
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No loss of water service is expected.
Image credit City of Pierre.
Image credit City of Pierre.
Image credit City of Pierre.
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