In Minneapolis, City-owned fire hydrants are flushed each year between May and October. Hydrant flushing removes mineral deposits from the water mains. It is also an opportunity to make sure hydrants are in working order.

Because flushing stirs up mineral deposits, it can temporarily discolor the tap water. The water is safe for drinking and bathing. However, to avoid staining clothing, we recommend waiting an hour or so and checking to see the water has returned to normal before doing laundry.

Get notified

You can sign up for notifications about water hydrant flushing in your area. Sign up for notifications. Make sure to create a full Smart911 profile online to register your address for location-based notifications like this.

Read more about what to do when hydrants in your area are being flushed.