Hydrant Flush Part of Effort to Remove Chemicals

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CHARLOTTE, NC — An update now to a story we first told you about last week on WCCB News at Ten.  

A viewer sent us cell phone video of a fire hydrant gushing water on Albemarle Road in northeast Charlotte.  Charlotte Water told us it was part of a flush to improve water quality.

We now know that flush was part of efforts to remove chemicals used by Duke Energy to improve air quality.

“To keep the water fresh, and to keep the level of byproducts low, we can open fire hydrants at the end of the system,” said Barry Gullet of Charlotte Water.  “This is something that we do in a very systematic and programmatic way to flush the right amounts at the right places. “

Charlotte Water says the levels detected came close to federal and state limits, but that the water is still safe.