ROCK ISLAND, Ill. — Rock Island Public Works provides an annual fire hydrant flush program, designed to remove unwanted minerals found in the water and maintain current fire hydrants.
The water division use chloramines, a safe type of disinfectant, to treat its water supply year-round, but turned to a stronger, more aggressive chemical, free chlorine, to get the job done during the flushing program.
"You're going to change the oil, you're going to wash your car—same thing," Jason Upton, Rock Island's Utilities Superintendent said. "Just a routine maintenance item that helps us provide good quality water to the citizens of rock island."
The agency is also responsible for fire prevention. They will work to preserve fire hydrants and repair those that are old or broken, supporting city firefighters so they can do their jobs to the best of their abilities.
"While we're doing [our flushes], our maintenance guys are also checking the hydrant to make sure it's operable," Upton said. "[Making sure it's] working properly, that we got good pressure and nothing's leaking on it."
The city understands residents' initial concerns but says it works closely with the United States Department of Environmental Protection to ensure free chlorine and chloramines are safe to drink.
"People shouldn't be afraid of it," Upton said. "If we can get through these few months while we're flushing, we'll be back to chloramines and people won't even know it happened."
Residents will be affected differently depending on if crews are working their street. You may smell a faint whiff of chlorine, experience low water pressure and see cloudy water. Rock Island's Public Works agency suggests its residents flush away cloudy water; you shouldn't drink it.
The program officially starts on September 29th, but the crews have began to add free chlorine to the water. It could last at least a month.