Did you know that the City of Cornwall maintains, inspects, and operates over 1,300 fire hydrants in our community.
Fire Hydrant Flushing
As part of our regular maintenance activities, Fire Hydrants throughout the City are flushed at least once a year. These flushing activities are required by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks to ensure…
- Proper chlorine residuals,
- Good water quality, and
- Adequate flow for firefighters.
During fire hydrant flushing, residents who live nearby may observe sediment in their water, or the water may temporarily turn brown or rust-coloured. Some nearby homes may also experience reduced water pressure until the flushing is complete.
If you notice sediment or that your water is discoloured, run the cold water taps in your home until the discolouration disappears. Do not drink the discolored water or do laundry until the discolouration disappears. Discoloured water is not harmful to your health, but it can stain laundry.
If your laundry becomes stained due to discoloured water, call the City’s Municipal Works at 613-932-5354.
Snow Removal around Fire Hydrants
Adopt a hydrant near you!
After a major snow event, Municipal Works staff will do their best to clear snow from around fire hydrants. This process can take some time, especially if there are multiple major snow events in a short period of time.
You can help by adopting a hydrant! Clear snow from around your hydrant, and be sure to avoid piling snow from your driveway next to hydrants. If hydrants are buried in snow, this could seriously delay the Cornwall Fire Service’s ability to respond quickly to a fire. A little proactive work could save precious seconds in case of emergency!
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