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Fire Hydrants
Please refer questions and comments about the content of this webpage to TWW's Office of Communications and Community Relations at (609) 989-3033. Business hours are 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday. TWW is closed on federal and municipal holidays.
TWW's Annual Fire Hydrant Inspections Begin on June 20
TWW technicians will inspect over 3,500 service-area fire hydrants beginning in West Trenton this week for mechanical operability and pressure for fire protection.
Click on this link to review the public notice TWW issued on June 19.
Click here to see a map of other neighborhoods in West Trenton.
Click on this link for the July 19 news release announcing the fire hydrant inspection program.
Click on this link to visit TWW's Legionella Mitigation, Updates, and Information webpage.
Fire hydrant inspections may temporarily impact water quality in work-area neighborhoods. Some customers may experience a drop in water pressure or see discolored or "brown water." Brown water occurs when deposits from iron pipes dissolve into the water delivered to the tap. In these situations, we recommend that residents not drink, cook or do laundry with brown water and run the cold tap until the water is clear.
Also, bacteria like Legionella could be present in the sediment and may enter homes and buildings. People can develop a type of pneumonia (lung infection) called Legionnaires' disease when they breathe in aerosolized water or tiny droplets in the air containing Legionella. The risk of getting sick is very low, especially for healthy people. Your risk for Legionnaires' disease may increase if you are 50 years or older (especially if you smoke) or have certain medical conditions, such as a weakened immune system. To minimize the risk of Legionella exposure, TWW recommends the following precautions:
Residents
* After TWW completes hydrant inspections in your neighborhood, run the water at each faucet and shower head for several minutes. Avoid exposure to aerosols (tiny droplets of water in the air) and mist, for example, by leaving the room while the water is running. If your water is discolored, flush until the water is clear. In some cases, this could take up to 20 minutes.
* Individuals at increased risk for Legionnaires' disease should avoid high-risk activities such as spending time in or near hot tubs, decorative fountains, and misters. Additionally, those at increased risk for Legionnaires' disease should avoid power washing, which generates increased amounts of aerosols (tiny droplets of water in the air) or mist. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine whether you should bathe instead of showering or install biological 0.2-micron filters that comply with industry standards (ASTM F838) on your showerhead.
* Follow best practices for cleaning shower heads and sink aerators (screens), draining and flushing water heaters, and maintaining appropriate hot water temperatures. These routine activities will help reduce the risk of Legionella growth in household water systems. More information is available at the following web-based resources:
* New Jersey Department of Health (NJDOH) at nj.gov/health/cd/topics/legion.shtml
* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at cdc.gov/healthywater/drinking/preventing-waterborne-germs-at-home.html
Building Owners and Property Managers
* Establish or review your building's water management plan to include protocols for identifying and addressing water disruptions.
* Develop and implement a whole building flushing plan that includes all incoming cold-water point-of-entry inlets if your building experiences a water disruption, such as loss of pressure or discoloration of water.
* Follow the manufacturer's instructions for draining, flushing, and/or cleaning all building potable water system components, such as water heaters, storage tanks, expansion tanks, water softeners, filtration systems, and ice machines.
* Verify building water system components are properly functioning per manufacturer's instructions, such as water heaters, mixing valves, pressure boosters, and recirculation pumps.
* Follow best practices for maintaining a healthy building water system. More information is available at cdc.gov/legionella/wmp/control-toolkit/potable-water-systems.html.
Cooling Tower Owners and Operators
* Establish or review your cooling tower system's water management plan to minimize the risk of Legionella growth in the circulated water.
* Monitor the quality of the cooling tower system's make-up and circulating water.
* Maintain proper biocide levels within the circulating water, including during low-use or standby periods.
* Manage the cooling tower system's water quality through an automated blowdown system.
* Properly install drift eliminators and ensure adequate maintenance. Consider installing high-efficiency drift eliminators to minimize drift loss (aerosolized water released from the cooling tower).
* Clean and disinfect the cooling tower system if this hasn't been conducted within the last 12 months (or more frequently if recommended by the manufacturer).
* Consider routine Legionella culture testing to confirm the effectiveness of the water management plan.
* Follow best practices for operating and maintaining cooling tower systems. More information is available at cdc.gov/legionella/wmp/control-toolkit/cooling-towers.html.
TWW is working closely with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection to implement strategies to optimize the treatment plant operation and distribution system. To help address Legionella in its water system, TWW initiated a monthslong low-velocity water main flushing program throughout its service area in early April 2023 to increase the water circulation throughout the distribution system and optimize chlorine levels. The goal is to maximize chlorine disinfection to minimize the conditions contributing to pathogens' growth, such as Legionella. This low-velocity flushing program will continue through the summer months, possibly longer.