MOSCOW — The City is required to conduct flushing of the water system annually. This process helps ensure the safety of Moscow’s drinking water.
Flushing will be performed between 7:30 am to 3:30 pm based on the following schedule:
October 9th – 10th
Main Street west to the City Limits between D Street and Taylor Avenue.
October 11th – 12th
D Street north to the City Limits between Almon Street and Polk Street and from Taylor Avenue south to Palouse River Drive. To include the Frontier addition.
October 12th – 13th
6th Street north to the City limits between Polk Street and Mountain View Road to include the Fort Russell Area.
October 16th – 17th
6th Street south to the Troy Highway and east to Mountain View Road to include the Indian Hills Addition.
October 18th –20th
Everything east of Mountain View Road from the north to the south City Limits.
During flushing, there will be water in the roadway. Drivers are cautioned to take care when driving through these areas.
Moscow’s water is drawn from an aquifer system. This aquifer system is naturally high in iron, which, while safe, can cause discoloration as iron flock accumulates in the distribution system. The Water Department performs annual flushing to minimize iron flocculation buildup in the distribution system. The system is flushed using fire hydrants and specifically designed flushing equipment.
Periodic flushing of the water distribution system is a vital part of the operation and maintenance of any public water system, and is a state regulatory requirement. The City’s well water is high in iron and manganese which reacts with chlorine creating floc, reddish colored particulate, that will settle in the piping system during normal flow condition and be re-suspended during high flow periods, regardless of the well’s filtering system. The flock is not harmful to human health, but can cause aesthetic issues with water as re-suspended floc or sediment results in red/brown hue to the water. Thorough flushing of the distribution system removes most of this floc sediment from the piping systems, improving overall water quality. However, some floc or sediment may remain in the pipes and some residents may see water discoloration even after City wide flushing.
Residents should complete the following steps after City flushing activities are completed:
–All residents are recommended to run cold water for 10 – 15 minutes to clear local lines.
–Following the cold-water process, it is recommended to run hot water for several minutes to ensure further the lines are clear, especially before using washing machines.
–Residents with water softeners or whole house filters should perform a regular maintenance check after City flushing is complete.
Residents who experience water discoloration and/or who do not see an improvement after running cold water should call the Moscow Water Department at 208-882-3122 as this may require more localized flushing.
The City of Moscow appreciates and thanks citizens for their patience as this necessary maintenance process is completed. For questions, or to report problems, or if water discoloration persists for an extended period, customers may call the Moscow Water Department between 7 am to 3:30 pm Mon. through Fri. at 208-882-3122.