The City of Hillsboro, Ohio

Why does my water look rusty or cloudy after hydrant flushing?

When a hydrant is opened, the water in the mainline will flow out at a high velocity.

This creates a scouring action in the pipe and dislodges fine sediment particles that have accumulated in the pipe. The fine sediment mixes with the water, turning the water a cloudy or rusty brown color. This mixture is discharged out of the hydrant. There is no health hazard associated with the discolored water. Remember, after the hydrant flushing operation, let your water clear a few hours before you use it.