Hydrant flush?

[JCDukes]

Just curious about something I witnessed today on my Ring Camera. Saw a white truck - could not see the name on the truck in my camera - pull up near a fire hydrant on our property and watched them run that hydrant for 1.5 hours at full throttle. Seems odd that it takes 1.5 hours to flush a hydrant - is this relatively normal? How often is this done? Appreciate any insight here - tried searching the forums, but couldn't find anything.

[retiredguy123]

Here is a video about how to flush a hydrant. It takes about 30 seconds, not 1.5 hours.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8DSyS-ycIfk&t=59s&pp=2AE7kAIB

[Bogie Shooter]

Why not go and ask them?

[ton80]

Here is a video about how to flush a hydrant. It takes about 30 seconds, not 1.5 hours.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=8DSyS-ycIfk&t=59s&pp=2AE7kAIB

They are trying to flush the water lines through the hydrants not flushing the hydrants only. Some systems use higher Chlorine residuals treating to disinfect the water lines.

See below an article published in 2024:

Sumter County gathers important information while flushing fire hydrants
by Staff Report
January 28, 2024
Facebook X
Sumter County has been conducting a fire hydrant flushing program that will soon begin in Wildwood.

The purpose of this annual program is to ensure fire hydrants are operational and in good working order. Regular testing helps identify potential issues, such as low water pressure or obstructed valves, allowing for prompt maintenance and repairs.

During the testing process, location data is collected to add to the hydrant layer on the Sumter County GIS interactive map. This data not only helps the fire departments, but the public can access this information via the Sumter County website (Sumter County, FL - Official Website | Official Website (http://www.sumtercountyfl.gov)). Municipalities also use the water data to simulate high-flow conditions to determine pressure and flow-producing capabilities of the water distribution system and for calibration of hydraulic models.

In addition, the data is used to assist the insurance industry with the necessary data analytics as the Insurance Services Office (ISO) collects, maintains, and analyzes a vast amount of water system information from the 45,521 fire protection areas evaluated throughout the country. It’s part of the nationally recognized fire protection rating program, Public Protection Classification (PPC), and one of the first lines of defense for residential fires are water systems with fire hydrants. The PPC program surveys communities, obtains data, analyzes the data, and then provides information to communities and insurers. The result is better preparation for firefighting budgets, capital improvements, system/hydrant maintenance, the ISO evaluation and fire department training.

Annual inspections of the Center Hill, Webster, Bushnell, and Lake Panasoffkee hydrants were completed; therefore, the hydrants in Coleman are currently being flushed and then the contractor will begin working in Wildwood.

There will be no interruption of service while this is in progress.

Related

[retiredguy123]

They are trying to flush the water lines through the hydrants not flushing the hydrants only. Some systems use higher Chlorine residuals treating to disinfect the water lines.

See below an article published in 2024:

Sumter County gathers important information while flushing fire hydrants
by Staff Report
January 28, 2024
Facebook X
Sumter County has been conducting a fire hydrant flushing program that will soon begin in Wildwood.

The purpose of this annual program is to ensure fire hydrants are operational and in good working order. Regular testing helps identify potential issues, such as low water pressure or obstructed valves, allowing for prompt maintenance and repairs.

During the testing process, location data is collected to add to the hydrant layer on the Sumter County GIS interactive map. This data not only helps the fire departments, but the public can access this information via the Sumter County website (Sumter County, FL - Official Website | Official Website (http://www.sumtercountyfl.gov)). Municipalities also use the water data to simulate high-flow conditions to determine pressure and flow-producing capabilities of the water distribution system and for calibration of hydraulic models.

In addition, the data is used to assist the insurance industry with the necessary data analytics as the Insurance Services Office (ISO) collects, maintains, and analyzes a vast amount of water system information from the 45,521 fire protection areas evaluated throughout the country. It’s part of the nationally recognized fire protection rating program, Public Protection Classification (PPC), and one of the first lines of defense for residential fires are water systems with fire hydrants. The PPC program surveys communities, obtains data, analyzes the data, and then provides information to communities and insurers. The result is better preparation for firefighting budgets, capital improvements, system/hydrant maintenance, the ISO evaluation and fire department training.

Annual inspections of the Center Hill, Webster, Bushnell, and Lake Panasoffkee hydrants were completed; therefore, the hydrants in Coleman are currently being flushed and then the contractor will begin working in Wildwood.

There will be no interruption of service while this is in progress.

Related
The OP's question was about how long it takes. The article you posted is from 18 months ago and doesn't say anything about how long you need to leave the hydrants open. 1.5 hours seems like a lot of water to waste, especially if they are opening every hydrant.

[ton80]

The OP's question was about how long it takes. The article you posted is from 18 months ago and doesn't say anything about how long you need to leave the hydrants open. 1.5 hours seems like a lot of water to waste, especially if they are opening every hydrant.

There are two types of hydrant flushing. The short flush of every hydrant is done for a short period. In NC this flush was done by the Fire Dept. personnel who went from hydrant to hydrant throughout the entire system. They verified that the hydrants were functioning properly.

Line flushing is done typically at selected hydrants at the end of a long run and is aimed at flushing out accumulated deposits and sometimes due to dirty water and frequent plugging of filters. There is at least one thread on TOTV referring to quick dirt accumulations in potable water filters. In addition some systems inject higher amounts of Chlorine and measure the free chlorine residual of the flushed water to ensure a good clean system before hot weather starts. One such hydrant was at my driveway in NC and the flushing continued for 1 to 2 hours from one hydrant. They tested and continued to flush until the proper free chlorine residual was reached. This flushing and testing was done by the water supplier technicians. There is no set length of flushing. The flushing continues as long as it takes to get clearer water or the target free chlorine residual. This could be an hour or two. IMHO that was what the OP observed that Jacobs personnel were doing for the hour plus time period.

[JCDukes]

Thank you for the responses. I appreciate it.

[jimkerr]

Yes, it’s normal. It’s likely Jacob’s doing this. The Villages makes sure the hydrants and infrastructure is maintained. This way when there’s an emergency and that water is needed, it won’t be an issue.

[Rwirish]

Is this normal, how often is it done?

I would guess the fire department knows the proper protocols.

[Indydealmaker]

The OP's question was about how long it takes. The article you posted is from 18 months ago and doesn't say anything about how long you need to leave the hydrants open. 1.5 hours seems like a lot of water to waste, especially if they are opening every hydrant.

The water is not wasted. It is just recirculating either as liquid or it's elements.

[Worldseries27]

yes, it’s normal. It’s likely jacob’s doing this. The villages makes sure the hydrants and infrastructure is maintained. This way when there’s an emergency and that water is needed, it won’t be an issue.
so now some are criticizing our sumter county government for testing our water pressure systems by running a few hydrants longer than their personal liking? Just a few reminders of where unpreparedness leads to.

[Bill14564]

so now some are criticizing our sumter county government for testing our water pressure systems by running a few hydrants longer than their personal liking? Just a few reminders of where unpreparedness leads to.

Completely unrelated but hey, good job trying to squeeze all you can out of a crisis.

[Worldseries27]

completely unrelated but hey, good job trying to squeeze all you can out of a crisis.
since when are the words " fire" and " hydrant" not related. I know it's an inconvenient truth.

[MrFlorida]

yes, normal. I've seen them do this at least once a year.

[Rocksnap]

Heads up on your Ring camera. There was a hack, they can see what you see. My neighbor checked his, had 2 unauthorized users that hacked in. Another neighbor did not have anything.
The first user was video, the selections was still pictures, if that makes a difference?
Google Ring hack, that should get you into your setting to see if anyone has hacked yours.

[Bill14564]

Heads up on your Ring camera. There was a hack, they can see what you see. My neighbor checked his, had 2 unauthorized users that hacked in. Another neighbor did not have anything.
The first user was video, the selections was still pictures, if that makes a difference?
Google Ring hack, that should get you into your setting to see if anyone has hacked yours.

This Snopes article (https://www.snopes.com/news/2025/07/21/ring-hacked-may-28-2025/) might help.