Claremont schedules water system flushing for July 20-28

Claremont will clean its entire water distribution system during scheduled hydrant flushing from July 20 through July 24 and again from July 27 through July 28, a city maintenance job that can briefly discolor tap water and affect pressure in parts of town. The work is part of the annual maintenance program to preserve potable water quality and keep flow capacity adequate across the system.

The first five days of flushing are set to move neighborhood by neighborhood. Monday, July 20 covers Winter Street below the Water Treatment Plant and the Veterans’ Park area. Tuesday, July 21 includes Water Street, Mill Road, Opera House Square, Main Street (Route 142) to Union Street, Broad Street, High Street, Chestnut Street and side streets, Sugar River Drive and Case Hill, and South Street and Pleasant Street to Drapers Corner. Wednesday, July 22 is scheduled for North Street and Lincoln Heights, Lower Hanover Street, Lafayette, Lower Elm Street and neighborhoods to Main Street, and Main Street neighborhoods to Coy Bridge. Thursday, July 23 includes the Park Avenue area, Myrtle Street and the Bluff area, Central Street and Pearl Street, and the Summer Street and Maple Avenue area. Friday, July 24 is set for Grissom Lane to the River Road junction, Industrial Boulevard, Sullivan Street and Twistback Road, and Old Church Road and Plains Road.

Flushing resumes Monday, July 27 and continues Tuesday, July 28 with Bible Hill, Ridge and Durham neighborhoods, Ledgewood Road and Glenwood Drive, Charlestown Road and sides to Lane Ridge, Winter Street above the Water Treatment Plant, Thrasher Road, Slab City, Hanover Street, Elm Street and Dunning Street. Crews will also open blow-offs throughout the city, with minimal disturbance expected. The schedule is subject to change without notice, and residents should be prepared for discoloration at any time during the work.

The water remains safe, but residents may see temporary discoloration and pressure fluctuations while crews move through the network. Households should schedule clothes washing and other cleaning projects for different times, and restaurants, laundromats and similar businesses should keep water use to a minimum until the water clears. The Water Treatment Plant, built in 1981, can produce 4.0 million gallons a day, serves 4,000 consumer connections and is tied to 75 miles of 2-inch to 20-inch distribution mains. The Sugar River Intake Station supplies 30 percent of the city’s water supply.