Discolored Water/Flushing Guide

Discolored water is common after a water main repair in your area. 

Follow these simple steps to flush your pipes and relieve trapped air.

• Begin with the SINK faucet on the lowest floor of your home or business. 
• SLOWLY open the COLD water SINK faucet.  
  • Opening slowly allows for the release of trapped air and may reduce the banging noise, known as a “water hammer” that can occur when water flow and pressure changes as a result of water main repair work.  
• Repeat this process on each floor, moving from the lowest to highest, only opening the COLD water SINK faucets. 
• You should also flush your refrigerator’s water lines. 
• Once the water runs clear, usually in five minutes or less, turn off your faucets in the same order, lowest to highest. 

Do NOT flush toilets or run water in bathtubs or showers until you have opened the COLD water SINK faucets from lowest to highest floors.  This is an effort to limit “water hammer” as well as limit how and where the discolored water flows inside the home. 

The first time you run hot water following a water main repair, open the hot water faucets slowly.  

If discolored water persists after running your cold water sink faucets for five minutes, please report it to the Emergency Services Center. 

Call: 301-206-4002 
Email:  emergencycallcenter@wsscwater.com 
Report online: Report a Water Quality Issue | WSSC Water

WSSC Water ​does not recommend using discolored water to do laundry. If clothing gets stained, immediately wash the clothes again using a rust remover product.  This type of product is available in most grocery stores.  For best results, do not let the clothes dry.