2026 Hydrant Flushing

It is that time of year again! The Public Works Department is gearing up to give our Village’s water system its annual “spa day.”  From Monday, August 24^th, through September 10^th, our crews will be out in your neighborhood between 6:00 am and 2:00 pm to conduct routine fire hydrant flushing.  While it might look like we are just turning on giant sprinklers, this process is crucial for keeping our community and drinking water safe.

Think of flushing as a much-needed workout for our hydrants.  Releasing water at high speeds improves overall water quality and flow by clearing out mineral deposits that naturally build up in the mains.  It also lubricates the hydrant's internal mechanisms and gives our team a chance to identify any maintenance needs, ensuring every single hydrant is in top-notch shape and ready to perform in a fire emergency.

While we are busy testing the water hydrants, you might notice a few temporary changes at home.   It is normal to experience a temporary drop in water pressure while crews work on your street.  You might also notice some discolored or rusty-looking tap water.  If this happens, don’t panic! Simply run cold water- preferably from your bathtub or an outside spigot- for a few minutes until it runs clear again.  Avoid using hot water until the cold water is clear to prevent rust from entering your hot water heater.  We strongly advise against washing laundry during your neighborhood’s flushing hours, as the temporary discoloration can stain your clothing.   Additionally, if your home has a water softener, please check your settings to ensure the unit does not regenerate during this daily window.  Finally, please keep an eye out for crews and drive safely when you see them working in the streets.

To help you plan ahead, we have divided the Village into a rolling schedule.  In Cook County, the flushing begins August 24^th through the 26^th for areas South of Irving Park Road, North of Lake Street, and West of Barrington Road.  On August 27^th and 28^th, we will move to the Hanover Highlands and Longmeadow South areas, which are South of Irving Park Road and East of Barrington Road.  We will wrap up the Cook County side from September 1^st through the 3^rd for all neighborhoods North of Irving Park Road.

In DuPage County, the action kicks off from August 24^th through the 27^th for the area South of the DuPage County Line and North of Stearns Road.  Next up, from September 1^st through the 3^rd, crews will cover the neighborhoods South of Stearns Road and North of Schick Road.  Finally, we will finish up the DuPage County areas located South of Schick Road on September 4^th and will conclude the annual event from September 8^th through the 10^th.

Please keep in mind that this schedule is a general guide and may change due to weather or unforeseen emergencies.  If you have any questions or concerns or would like to discuss the process, please call our Public Works Department at (630) 823-5700.  Thank you for your patience as we work to keep our Village’s water system in tip-top shape!