Tell City to begin annual hydrant flushing June 14

Tell City Water Department crews will begin annual hydrant flushing Sunday night, June 14, starting at 4th Street and moving eastward through the city. Residents near the work area may notice temporary discolored water or lower pressure while the system is flushed.

The city says the program is part of routine work to maintain water quality and system integrity. Officials also warn that adjacent properties to the active flush area may see discoloration from mineral deposits, so households nearby should avoid washing clothes while flushing is taking place in the area to reduce the chance of staining.

Tell City’s water system serves 3,450 households and industrial customers in southern Perry County. The department draws from 11 wells tapping a freshwater aquifer under the Ohio River, and the utility runs through about 154,500 feet of pipelines. The system can pump 1,580 gallons per minute and filter 2,885 gallons per minute, with storage capacity of 500,000 gallons in the 10th Street tower and 750,000 gallons in the Pestalozzi Street tower.

The 2026 flushing schedule runs from the week of April 20-24 through July 20-24, and the city says the map is being updated each Friday as crews work through the routes. That schedule matters for neighborhoods because the flushing pattern moves section by section, with the first crews beginning on 4th Street before heading east.

Anyone with questions about the work can call the Tell City Water Department at 812-547-3266. The city’s annual flushing program is designed to keep water moving cleanly through the system while supporting fire protection across Tell City and the surrounding area.