Frequently Asked Questions

The Larned Water Department is implementing a common utility maintenance procedure called unidirectional flushing. It involves opening specifically-selected fire hydrants and closing specifically selected valves under controlled conditions to scour the inner surface of water distribution pipes. The scouring process helps to remove corrosion scale and sediment that accumulate naturally over time. If otherwise left in place, these deposits could degrade water quality and restrict pipeline carrying capacity.

Though not intentional, this happens from time-to-time during the flushing program. During flushing, certain valves are closed to provide control over the direction of flow. It is likely that a valve closure resulted in loss of supply to your block. The field crew will be sent to your block immediately to investigate and identify which valves may be closed and need to be re-opened.

No, each residence and business is individually metered at the service connection to determine consumption. Your utility bill is based on your specific meter readings.

The color is due to the presence of solids that are scoured from the surface of the pipes. These may include sand, sediment, iron (rust), and manganese, all of which are naturally-occurring and common to virtually every water system. At the levels that cause mild discoloration, these solids are not harmful, although they may impart an undesirable taste to the water.

Customers are advised to fully open their cold water faucets in their kitchen and bathroom to flush this water out of their service piping and plumbing lines. In most cases, the water should begin to run clear again within a minute. If it does not clear, please let us know and we will have a field crew sent to your house to investigate further.

Yes, the LWD has maintained compliance with all state and federal drinking water quality standards. The LWD performs frequent monitoring throughout the system to ensure the safety and aesthetic quality of your water. Each year, the LWD prepares the Consumer Confidence Report for all our customers. This report summarizes the results of testing and provides a comparison to regulatory standards. We are performing flushing as a proactive measure to further enhance water quality and help ensure continued compliance.