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Wood Village public works rolls out unidirectional flushing after seasonal water loss
Summary
Public Works reported progress addressing a recent water loss and described a new unidirectional flushing program that staff say produced markedly clearer samples and will be performed quarterly during rollout then tapered.
Public Works staff reported that a recent unexplained water loss has largely returned to normal and described a new unidirectional flushing program aimed at removing decades of sediment from distribution mains.
Staff said meter-register replacements over the past months likely improved consumption recording and that the city saw roughly 500,000–600,000 gallons per month previously missing from its water accounting. "It was roughly 5 to 600,000 gallons a month we were kinda missing," a staff member said, noting that replacing a number of register batteries and registers improved recorded consumption.
On unidirectional flushing, staff explained the program isolates sections of pipe and directs water from a single flow source to dramatically increase velocity and scour mineral build-up. The staff presentation included before-and-after photos showing discolored discharge that cleared to much clearer water after targeted unidirectional flushing; staff said the program may be performed quarterly during the initial phase and then tapered to twice a year or annually as conditions improve.
Staff framed the program as a proactive water-quality measure that can reduce the need for residents to flush taps and will improve sample residuals at distribution sampling stations. They also noted staffing constraints (temporary reductions in utility crew) that affect how quickly some projects proceed.
