Flushing the Distribution System

Flushing water lines is an important operational procedure for any water system. Flushing frequency varies with the quality of the water entering the distribution system, but any system should be thoroughly flushed at least once a year. The purpose of flushing is to remove sediments and stale water, and to help maintain chlorine residuals throughout the distribution system. Information on determining flushing rates for various pipe sizes is given.