Water System Maintenance To Begin In Leesburg

LEESBURG, VA—If you notice discolored water coming from your faucets in the coming months, it's because the town's utilities department will be performing preventative maintenance on the water system infrastructure beginning in June and continuing through November.

The program, known as a Water Valve Exercising Program, involves closing and reopening the valves on water mains throughout the distribution area, according to a release. Its purpose is to assure system reliability and water quality by operating valves.

Town crews will "exercise," or close and reopen, each valve, operating the valve through a full cycle and returning it to its normal position. In areas where valves are being closed, fire hydrants will be opened to ensure that the water in the main line remains clear. Per the release:

Customers may experience some sediment or discolored water following the closing and opening of the water valves. If customers notice cloudy or discolored water, the Utilities Department recommends running several cold water taps at full force for a period of one to two minutes, until the cloudiness or discoloration disappears. It may be necessary to repeat this process after 30 minutes. In addition, the closing and opening of valves may introduce air into water lines which can cause temporary erratic water flow.

Water Valve Exercise Program operations will take place between the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you have any questions regarding the program, or have any concerns about water quality, please call the Leesburg Utilities Department at 703-737-7075. For after-hour emergencies, please call the Leesburg Police Department at 703-771-4500.