# St. Helena fixes brown water with $885k flush

> St. Helena flushes 40 miles of pipes to clear brown tap water after years of complaints.
- Title: St. Helena fixes brown water with $885k flush · Sfgate
- Summary: St. Helena flushes 40 miles of pipes to clear brown tap water after years of complaints. St.
- Keywords: st helena, brown water, water mains, flushing project, city council, napa valley, Sfgate
- Source: Sfgate — https://sfgate.com/bayarea/article/st-helena-brown-water-flushing-22495457.php
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: st helena, brown water, water mains, flushing project, city council, napa valley, news, local
## 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.
## Key takeaway

St. Helena City Council approved $885,000 to flush 40 miles of water mains and clear brown tap water.