Fire Hydrant Flushing

The City of De Soto & Northwest Consolidated Fire District - Fire Hydrant Flushing and Testing Program

The City of De Soto and the Northwest Consolidated Fire District have begun a maintenance program to flush and flow test fire hydrants throughout the City. This work is expected to take several months to complete, and will be ongoing throughout the fall. This is an important preventative maintenance activity we undertake to maintain the integrity of the water system and allow us to continue to deliver the highest quality water possible to our customers.

The primary purpose of this program is to verify the proper operation of the city’s fire hydrants through periodic inspections, flow testing, and preventative maintenance. Secondarily, a proactive hydrant flushing program is the key to mitigating water quality related aesthetic problems by removing accumulated iron and manganese mineral deposits from the water line.

Fire hydrant flushing may cause temporary inconveniences such as a reduction in water pressure and aesthetic issues such as discoloration of the drinking water. Discolored water poses no threat to the public health, but it will stain laundry and if consumed may have an unpleasant taste.

If you have a hydrant on your property, please keep a 3-foot area around the hydrant free of landscaping, fences, or other obstructions that may hamper access to the hydrant.  

If you experience continued loss of pressure or persistent water discoloration, please contact the City's Water Superintendent, Doug Smith at 913-238-0434 or Water Department Foreman, Billy Briggs at 913-416-0185.