Why is it advantageous to perform a hydrant flushing program at night aside from causing less traffic disruption?

• A. Fewer customer complaints
• B. Lower water demand
• C. Lower chlorine demand
• D. Cheaper power usage

Answer: (A)

Hydrant flushing stirs up sediments and can temporarily affect water quality in the distribution system. Doing this at night minimizes the number of customers who experience those temporary changes, so there are fewer calls and complaints about discolored water, odor, or taste. That practical benefit often outweighs the other considerations because it keeps customer service issues to a minimum when fewer people are using or observing the water.

Lower water demand isn’t guaranteed by nighttime flushing since the process itself uses water regardless of the time. Lower chlorine demand and cheaper power usage are not reliable or direct outcomes of nighttime flushing compared to the reduction in customer complaints.