Flushing Program

Flushing a water main

Water Main Flushing

The City of Monterey Park's Water Utility Division flushes water mains throughout the city's water distribution system. To minimize the impact to our water consumers from the flushing program, staff conducts the flushing of the mains between the hours of 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

As required by state law, the city conducts an annual water main flushing program to help maintain the highest water quality possible for the Monterey Park community. The flushing program forces water through the city's water distribution piping system at high speeds allowing the pipes to be cleaned. The entire flushing program is conducted once per year and usually takes four to six weeks to complete but should not require more than two nights in any specific neighborhood.

Reason For Flushing

Flushing is done to maintain and/or improve the quality of water delivered to our customers. Many of the city's water mains (pipes) are more than 50-years old. At this time, they have to be flushed to remove sediment (mostly rust particles) from the corrosion that has built up over years of use. Forcing water through the pipes at high speeds cleans them. Flushing removes the sediment that can cause water to appear dirty or discolored. The flushing program should improve the quality of the water we provide to your home and business.

Services Affected By Flushing

Water service will not be interrupted when the pipes are flushed. Flushing is typically done during the evening between 10 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. to reduce inconvenience to our customers. When the flushing work is done in your area, your water may appear dirty for a short period of time. If this does happen, you should run your taps for a couple of minutes until the water is clear. We recommend that you run your front yard hose faucet first to clear the line to the house.

The city's goal in flushing is to provide water that consistently meets all standards, including aesthetic ones. We want to assure our customers that any discoloration effects will be temporary. If your water does not clear quickly, please call Public Works at 626-307-1320 (7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday) or 626-573-1311 after hours so that we can assist you.