Fire Hydrant Flushing

The Metropolitan District flushes approximately 11,000 fire hydrants throughout its towns beginning in spring through the end of summer of each year. This is done to maintain the quality of our water and ensure that the fire hydrants servicing your community are in good working condition for fire protection.

Fire hydrant flushing can temporarily result in discolored water.  If discolored water occurs in your home, run the cold water in your bathtub for approximately 20 minutes until the water runs clear. This discoloration is not harmful and is due to sediment and iron that collects in the pipe throughout the year which is disturbed and removed by the flushing process.

As part of the MDC fire hydrant flushing process, the MDC continuously takes water samples throughout the area to ensure that the sediment has been cleared from the system.

If the discolored water persists please contact the MDC’s 24-Hour Emergency Command Center (860) 278-7850 and press 1.

2025 FLUSHING SCHEDULE (see town links for flushing area maps)

Flushing in the areas listed below.

August 22 – September 26
Hartford (Area 2) 
Area bordered: East by Van Dyke Ave, Reserve Rd / I-91
South by Wethersfield Town Line
West by West Hartford Town Line
North by Farmington Ave

July 14 – August 22
Rocky Hill
Area bordered; East by Connecticut River
South Cromwell Town Line
West by Newington / Berlin Town Line
North by Wethersfield Town Line

UP NEXT
East Granby
East Hartford (Area 1) 
East Hartford (Area 2)
Glastonbury
South Windsor

COMPLETED
West Hartford (Area 1)
West Hartford (Area 2)
Farmington
Bloomfield (Area 1)
Bloomfield (Area 2)
Windsor (Area 1)
Windsor (Area 2)
Newington (Area 1) 
Newington (Area 2) 
Wethersfield (Area 1) 
Wethersfield (Area 2) 
Rocky Hill
Hartford (Area 1)