On Wednesday, July 12th, Maple Shade water customers specifically on the north side of town (north of Main St) experienced serious issues with brown water. This unfortunately occurred as a result of a hydrant, which was opened to evaluate its condition for potential replacement. The brown discoloration comes from iron. Iron is naturally occurring and not a health risk, but it does create unsightly brown water. Iron builds up on the inside of the old cast iron pipes and when disturbances to the distribution system occur such as increased flow volume due water main breaks, hydrant openings, etc.; pressure fluctuations; and increased seasonal water use (summer months), iron particles become suspended and are discharged out of residents’ taps when used. To address this issue, we did an emergency flushing overnight of North Forklanding & a few other streets on the north side of town to dispel the brown water. Due to the overnight flushing, there could be some residual brown water in the system but that should clear up quickly when the cold water is run for 10-15 minutes. We encourage anyone still experiencing problems to give the water company a call at 856-488-7450. Also if any of your clothes, toilets, bathtubs, sinks, etc. were stained from yesterday’s event, please give us a call. We understand the significant inconvenience this issue causes and the water company along with the township is doing everything we can to prevent a reoccurance. Going forward, no hydrants will be opened during the day unless it is an emergency. We will still be conducting the flushing of the south side of town next week however all this work will be done at night during the hours of 10 PM to 6 AM. If you have any questions or concerns please give us a call.
Hydrant Flushing - Week of 7/16
The Maple Shade Utilities staff will be performing a hydrant flushing of the south side of town (south of Main St) beginning the evening of Sunday, July 16th and flushing will continue each night through Thursday, July 20th. No flushing will be performed on Friday, July 21st. The flushing will be done between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. The flushing is done to improve water age and remove solids that can accumulate within a water distribution system. This activity can result in “brown water” conditions during the flushing activity. We understand this has been an issue in Maple Shade and we are continuing to work on a long-term solution. However, the water is no less safe to use or drink during this time. The flushing activities are performed to improve overall water quality. In the mornings after flushing has occurred, allow your cold water to run until any discoloration is no longer present. We understand the inconvenience this can cause and thank you for your patience as we work towards a better system for the residents of Maple Shade. If you have any questions, call the Water Department at 856-488-7450 or leave a message for us using this website and we will get back to you.