The Village of Niles Public Services Department has hired M.E. Simpson Company to conduct testing of all Village owned fire hydrants this year. Fire hydrant testing is completed to ensure hydrants are operating properly and can be used in the event of a fire or other emergency requiring water. Because the testing involves the increased flow of water from fire hydrants, some residents may notice discolored water during the testing.
Testing and inspections will start in early September and should be completed by mid-November. To pose as little inconvenience as possible to residents and businesses, M.E. Simpson & Company will conduct the majority of testing during daylight hours except where high traffic areas warrant nighttime testing.
Please keep the following in mind:
• The flushing and testing of each hydrant takes about 15 minutes.
• The majority of testing will be conducted between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays.
• During testing customers may notice large quantities of water in the street.
• There may be a slight pressure drop, air in the water pipes, some temporary discoloration or sediment in your water. To counter these effects it is recommended to restrict water use when a hydrant in your immediate vicinity is being tested, and then run water from an outside spigot for a short period of time to flush out any loosened sediment.
Should you have any additional questions feel free to contact the Niles Public Services Department at (847) 588-7900.