A nightly water shutdown is planned in the area near Kirkwood
Hydrant and valve leaks lead to repair work starting at around 3 a.m.
CEDAR RAPIDS – Due to a fire hydrant and valve leak, homes and businesses near Kirkwood Boulevard SW and Oklahoma Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids will experience water outages overnight and may last until 11 a.m. Saturday.
Contractors are working toward a 3 a.m. Saturday shutoff that could last six to eight hours, according to the city. While some customers would be completely without water during that time, others would experience a loss of pressure.
The city provided a map showing the green shaded areas where a complete power outage is expected and the green outlined areas where a reduction is expected.
Due to a fire hydrant and valve leak near Kirkwood Boulevard SW and Oklahoma Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids, homes and businesses in the highlighted area of the attached image will experience a water outage overnight and into Saturday. (City of Cedar Rapids)
The Cedar Rapids Water Department reminded affected customers to flush their internal water lines after water main maintenance is completed.
According to the city government, “When water supply is affected by a brief outage, it is always a good idea to flush the internal pipes in a home or business. There may be air in the pipe or the water may be cloudy, which is associated with increased turbidity. These symptoms are to be expected.”
The department advised affected customers:
- After an outage, run cold water through a faucet that does not have an aerator screen. Bathtubs and faucets are good examples.
- Open the faucet slowly to allow the air to escape. The air will escape from the faucet with a splashing or hissing sound.
- Once the water is flowing, let the faucet run for up to five minutes to ensure the supply line is thoroughly flushed. The initial water may be cloudy due to air in the water or particles that become dislodged as the pipes fill with water. The cloudiness should disappear fairly quickly.
- It may take up to 48 hours for the cloudiness to disappear after the system is restored to normal configuration. Continue to run cold water through the faucet daily until these symptoms disappear.
- If kitchen or bathroom faucets are not functioning normally after a water outage, it may be necessary to remove the aerator screen. Usually, the aerator can simply be unscrewed from the faucet. Inspect the screen for small particles and flush away any particles found. Reinstall the aerator and test the faucet’s performance again.
- If you encounter problems such as low pressure throughout your home after a water outage, contact the Utilities Water Division at 319-286-5900 during regular business hours for assistance.
