Interruptions in Your Water Service

When Denver Water Construction Crews are in the area:

We may be flushing hydrants or repairing the water pipe due to a water main break, or we may be installing a new water pipe.

In either case, your water service may have been disturbed, or the appearance, smell, and/or taste of your water is different.

Is the water still safe for drinking?

Most likely it is. The differences are usually only aesthetic (discoloration and metallic taste).

Denver Water flushes hydrants to test their proper functioning for fire flows, but also periodically to freshen the water supply particularly where the water pipe acts as a "dead-end source."

What happens when a main break occurs?

Our crews isolate the pipe by shutting off valves and temporarily placing the water supply out-of-service for a short period of time.

After repair or replacement of the broken pipe, it is thoroughly cleaned, disinfected, and flushed, prior to being reconnected to the system.

New pipe, like any new container, can produce a new pipe taste and/or odor. This is not uncommon and will usually go away after a few weeks. It is not in any way harmful, only aesthetically displeasing.

What can happen when the water service has been disturbed?

As in a water main break or a hydrant usage, air pockets often form within the water pipes.

Natural mineral scale is on the inside of the pipes, and disturbances in the flow of the water (such as air pockets) from the above mentioned activities, often cause mineral scale to slough off and discolor the water or produce particulate matter.

If you notice this, especially in your toilet reservoir (toilet reservoirs or tank usually indicate the quality of the water coming into the home), please give us a call.

Try to avoid using hot water during this event, otherwise flushing the hot water system will be necessary.

Note: Discolored water in the bathtub (hot water only) may indicate a problem with the hot water tank, which is the responsibility of the consumer.

For additional information on water quality, call 303-893-2444.