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Monday, May 11, 2009

Water?

"Joe…

I was just driving on the new section of Beaglin Park Drive headed toward Zion Road. Right on the corner where those new townhouses are there’s a fire hydrant. This thing has a hose hooked to it that’s pointed to the nearest storm drain. The valve is open and there is water coming out of the hydrant FULL FORCE! There’s so much water coming out of it that it’s flooding the road. There’s no one in sight anywhere near it. Several thoughts crossed my mind. How long has this been running? How long will it BE running? WHY is it flowing in this manner? And last, but not least… why am I paying such an OUTRAGEOUS city water and sewer bill and there’s this sort of thing going on??!!!"

17 comments:

Anonymous said...

This is normal when new connections have been made up the line as in new Tees or hydrants installed. The fire marshal wants to witness a full flow flush to ensure that all the debris gets out of the pipe and not in the next fire engine's pump. The Aydolette Farm Subdivision was probably the Tee work site.

Anonymous said...

Does the contracto/builder pay for this or are the citizens forking the bill again?

Anonymous said...

i'm sure that it's a "normal" procedure. but so is doing laundry, washing the car, flushing the toilet, etc... the difference is "I" have to pay every time i do these things!

Anonymous said...

Think of it as the water and rust that collects in the gas station fuel tanks. Every time they are filled or worked on, a little more builds up, and the bottom is pumped out and recycled to make sure the customers get a good tank of clean fuel. Everybody pays this cost of doing business to recycle part for the benefit of all.

Anonymous said...

anon 1:25 said "Everybody pays"


somehow i seriously doubt that!!!

Anonymous said...

before my co relocated to NC we were required to run our fire suppresion sys (pump) once a 1/4 the city stepped in, wanted to fine us and and eventially made a "special fee" because the pump was before the meter!!! strangly this was required procedure from the state and insurance Co.???

Anonymous said...

1:25 is correct. Its to remove the accumulated sediment and rust from the water main. The water main you get your drinking water from. Most towns do this semi-annually. Stop Complaining. Its for you!!!

Anonymous said...

How long? I don't know but it was running when I went by there on Saturday.

Anonymous said...

Why is it your business? It is normal maintenance.

Anonymous said...

it seems like the bigger point is being missed here! as a citizen of salisbury, i'm being raked accross the coals every time i turn on the water at my house. water and sewer bills are getting higher and higher with no end in sight! and yet, someone can dump thousands of gallons of water into a storm drain and not have to worry about it. i'm sure that it's a normal maintenance thing, but it's only fair that SOMEONE should have to pay for it! i would if i used that much water! and ANON 2:24, i don't drink the water that the city sends to me. can you say WWTP?

Anonymous said...

If this wasn't done and rust and other particulate got into your water you would complain about that too. Move on to bigger things for crying out loud.

Anonymous said...

Obviously this "complainer" is not familiar with this procedure. Move out into the county and you will not worry about water bills.

Anonymous said...

I know this is a regular procedure, however the timing of adding all that water during a very heavy rain period while the storm water system is already stressed makes me wonder just how smart some of these people are.

Infrastructure abuse.

Anonymous said...

anon 7:33, i have water filters in my water line and guess what? there's rust in the water anyway! and i'm NOT complaining about that!

and anon 11:51, yeah sure... i'll up and move. it's THAT EASY! that's sarcasm just incase you didn't pick up on it. i would ask, where do YOU live? and D*** RIGHT i'm complaining! i think i have every right to! and for the last time, I UNDERSTAND THE PROCEDURE AND THE REASON FOR IT! i'm just saying that it's unfair that no one has to foot the bill for it, and yet i have to pay 5 bucks every time i flush the toilet. MAN, you guys are thick-headed!!!!!

Anonymous said...

For God's sake, take a pill. I wish people worried about supporting local businesses or fighting homelessness as much as they worry about 32 cents on their quarterly water bill. This is a normal maintenance procedure and in fact in certain circumstances where there are dead ends or tees in water supply piping it is required to ensure that bacteria does not build up inside the pipes. It is already paid for because it is factored into the cost of operating the system when the rate is set. Everyone pays for it. It does seem like a waste, but it is for overall system performance and a puclic health benefit. As for the timing, on a system as large as Salisbury, these things are scheduled so that they are completed before there is a public health risk, so they do not always have the luxury of waiting until the rain season is over.

Since we do NOT have all the FACTS, we should not rush to crucify others.

Anonymous said...

I don't think it was normal maintenance; I saw the same thing happening two weeks ago coming on my way home from work at 5pm (at that very spot). My husband and I rode back by around 6:15 and it was still going!!

Anonymous said...

anon 4:51

thanks! that shut 'em up!

i'll take a video next time!