From Sfgate · · 1m
St. Helena fixes brown water with $885k flush
St. Helena flushes 40 miles of pipes to clear brown tap water after years of complaints.
In brief
St. Helena flushes 40 miles of pipes to clear brown tap water after years of complaints. St. Helena City Council approved $885,000 to flush 40 miles of water mains and clear brown tap water. Originally reported by Sfgate.
St. Helena water problem
St. Helena may solve its decadeslong brown water issue with a citywide flushing project.
Flushing project details
The city plans to flush 1 to 1.5 miles of pipes daily for 45 to 50 days using zero discharge flushing.
Project funding
St. Helena City Council approved more than $885,000 for the flushing project to address brown tap water.
Water quality impact
Residents should avoid using water during flushing to prevent discolored water from entering plumbing.
Past water issues
Brown water worsened in July after a bus crashed into a fire hydrant, causing hotel and restaurant stains.
Next steps
The city will continue testing the system after pipe cleaning to determine when brown water clears.
Here's the gist
St. Helena City Council approved $885,000 to flush 40 miles of water mains and clear brown tap water.
