Pennsylvania American Water schedules hydrant flushing in Lewisburg area

Pennsylvania American Water has begun routine hydrant flushing across Lewisburg Borough, East Buffalo Township, Kelly Township and Buffalo Township, a maintenance pass that can leave tap water temporarily discolored and pressure briefly lower while crews work through the system. The flushing is scheduled to continue until June 25, and nearby properties may also notice sediment stirred up in the lines.

The utility said the work is part of its annual system maintenance program, aimed at clearing mineral deposits and sediment from pipes, confirming hydrants remain operational and checking fire flows in the water network. On a given street or in a nearby area, the flushing usually lasts about one hour, but the impact can reach beyond the exact block where crews are opening hydrants.

That matters for households and businesses that depend on clean, steady water throughout the day. Pennsylvania American Water advises customers not to run washing machines or dishwashers during the flushing window and to draw cooking water ahead of time if possible. If water comes out rusty or cloudy, the company says the discoloration is normal and not harmful, and it should clear after running cold water for a few minutes. Anyone doing laundry should check the water first, since mineral sediment can stain clothes.

Restaurants, laundromats and other water-dependent operations in the Lewisburg area may want to shift laundry, cleaning and prep cycles away from the flushing periods, especially because the utility’s active flush areas are updated weekly and adjacent addresses can be affected even if crews are not on the same block. Pennsylvania American Water’s customer advisory map, launched in 2022, shows hydrant flushing notices, planned outages and boil-water advisories by address. Customers can also opt into phone, text or email alerts through MyWater before flushing begins in their neighborhood.

The timing hits a large slice of Union County’s population and its busiest commercial corridor. Lewisburg Borough describes itself as the county’s primary commercial center and the area with the greatest density of persons in Union County, while East Buffalo Township had 7,421 residents in the 2020 census and Kelly Township had 3,994. For families, businesses and institutions across that network, the practical move is simple: expect short-lived changes in water quality, plan around laundry and equipment use, and let cold water run until it clears.