GCWW, CFD Team Up for Annual Spring Hydrant Service Awareness

CINCINNATI – Greater Cincinnati Water Works (GCWW) and the Cincinnati Fire Department (CFD) would like to remind citizens that this is the time of year for the Annual Spring Service – a time when all 12,000-plus fire hydrants within the City of Cincinnati are checked and serviced by “flowing” pressurized water through the network of pipes.

What does this mean for residentss?

1. Safety: It is in the best interest of public safety that the hydrants be checked and verified to be in proper working condition. This ensures the hydrant is functioning properly and available for service in the event of an emergency.
2. Potentially “discolored” water: The servicing process may temporarily discolor the water and make it look red or brown. GCWW & CFD acknowledge that residents may be particularly sensitive to this condition.
3. Patience please: CFD always attempts to flush the water until it is clear. However, if water appears discolored, it is recommended to also flush home plumbing/pipes by running the water from the tap for a few minutes until it becomes clear again. If the water remains discolored for longer than a few hours, please notify GCWW Customer Service at (513) 591-7700.
4. Awareness: Servicing of the hydrants takes place seven (7) days a week. Please watch for CFD vehicles on streets and move cars if possible.

This process of servicing hydrants takes approximately one month. There is no set schedule. The goal is to complete the entire process in the month of April, but it is also dependent on weather and accessibility.

Since these activities routinely occur region-wide, GCWW & CFD are also contacting other fire departments in the area for expanded awareness.