MPMW maintains water quality with annual water flushing program

Published on September 25, 2023

Menlo Park Municipal Water (MPMW)conducts an annual water main flushing program as part of scheduled preventative maintenance to ensure good water quality and improve water flow, with a focus on dead end water main lines. This flushing program takes place from September through October, as needed. Dead end water mains are often found at the end of cul-de-sac streets and older neighborhoods. Dead end water mains generally do not provide enough flow to keep water fresh and chlorine levels present. To ensure high water quality, MPMW has a preventative maintenance cycle set up for flushing dead end water mains.

During flushing, staff checks for water quality. Water quality checking includes comparing the beginning and ending chlorine residual per estimated gallons flushed to determine which dead end mains need to be flushed frequently. Dead end mains vary, and higher usage mains tend to keep water fresher over time compared to mains that services only a few homes. Due to variability, staff prioritizes keeping accurate records to maintain water quality. Crews are required to flush water mains to maintain water quality, even during periods of drought.

Flushing water mains may cause some side effects, such as a temporary reduction in water pressure or brown water. Customers can flush their home's water lines by running the indoor and outdoor faucets for one to three minutes until the water is clear. These temporary conditions are normal during flushing and are not dangerous to the public.

For more information about water quality, please view the 2022 Water Quality Report.

For questions or to report a water quality concern, please contact Menlo Park Municipal Water.