Fire hydrant testing to begin next month in Southern Shores – OBX Today

[Submitted]

The Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department will begin conducting its annual Fire Hydrant Testing Program over the next month.

The goal of our testing program is to assure a reliable water supply in the event of a fire. The testing is required by the Insurance Service Office (ISO) and must be completed annually in order to maintain our Fire Protection Rating, which directly affects property owner insurance premiums.

In addition to being a requirement of ISO, hydrant testing provides many benefits for fire personnel. We gain firsthand knowledge of where hydrants are located, assure they are visible from the road, operational as a “first water” source, and are able to confirm they are maintained on a regular basis.

What should you do when hydrants are being flushed in your area? If you see a crew flushing a hydrant on your street, avoid running tap water and using the washing machine or the dishwasher until the flushing is completed. If you see hydrant flushing crews working in the area, please drive carefully and treat them like any other road construction
crew.

Why is the water pressure low? Your water pressure may be low due to the flushing of fire hydrants, which lowers the water
pressure in the area that is being tested.

What should you do after the hydrants are flushed? If tap water is used during flushing, it could come out discolored. If you encounter discolored water, shut the water off and wait several minutes. After waiting, check the clarity by running cold
water for a few minutes, allowing new water to work its way into your pipes. If you need additional information, please call the Southern Shores Volunteer Fire Department at (252) 261-2272.