Why are fire hydrants being flushed in Calgary amid water restrictions? Achi-News

While water restrictions remain in effect across Calgary, the city said it still has to follow some necessary practices that may seem wasteful — such as flushing water lines through hydrants.

“While the city has prioritized reducing our water use, we must continue practices required by law and necessary to meet regulatory standards for water quality,” the City of Calgary said on its website.

Flushing the water lines helps ensure high quality drinking water and protects the water distribution system, according to the city. It also needs to happen after a water main has been repaired to flush out any sediment and contaminants that may have entered the pipes.

The city is currently under stage four outdoor water restrictions, which prohibit all outdoor water use. Voluntary indoor restrictions are also in place, encouraging residents to reduce their water use at home.

With reducing water use top of mind, the city said it implemented monitoring practices and improved flushing methods to reduce the amount of water used by 75 percent.

The city noted, however, that it does not currently have a mechanism to capture and reuse the water.

Fire department conducting training

The Calgary Fire Department (CFD) will also be conducting live fire training exercises, which could raise the eyebrows of Calgarians.

In a social media post on Wednesday, CFD said the exercises will be held at the Fire Training Academy over the coming weeks.

“The water used to extinguish the fires comes from CFD’s own closed water system which captures and recycles all the water used for training, and in no way affects the drinking water supply the city,” CFD said in the post.

This water system has been in operation since 2011.

The exercises have a burn permit and are exempt under the current fire ban.

The fire training academy is located near Elliston Park in the south east of the city.