Flushing will generally occur between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. for most neighborhoods. No impacts to your water services are anticipated during the flushing process, and water will remain safe to drink. If Western crews or contractors need to block part of the street, “no parking” signs will be placed at least 72 hours before we begin working in your neighborhood.  

Western will be flushing water mains in Murrieta beginning Monday, May 3 through Monday, May 17.  We are unable to provide a flushing schedule as work duration and flushing location will fluctuate based on several factors, including how fast crews are able to complete work each day.   

Over time, natural sediments such as iron and manganese can accumulate in the large water pipes (also called mains) located beneath the streets. While these sediments are completely safe, they may affect water taste, color and odor. Water main flushing is the process of cleaning the interior of the large water pipes and removing any accumulated sediment by sending a rapid flow of water through it. This rapid flow disrupts any sediment that may accumulate in the mains over time, allowing us to filter and remove it.

Western is committed to providing customers with safe, reliable water. We take pride in consistently delivering water that not only meets but exceeds federal and state water quality standards. Not only do we test your water more than 30,000 times per year*, but Western also performs water main flushing in order to ensure our water maintains its high quality in the long term.

*Westerns conducts more than 30,000 tests across its entire system serving both the Riverside and Murrieta areas.

To flush water mains in Murrieta, Western will be using the NO-DES (Neutral Output Discharge Elimination System) flushing and filtration system, a new water-efficient technology. While traditional flushing methods “flush out” sediments by releasing water from fire hydrants into the streets and storm drains, the NO-DES technology flushes system pipelines while keeping water contained within the system, without losing a single drop!

The system works by linking two hydrants with a pump, an oversized fire hose and a filtration system mounted on top of a flatbed truck, the water is then circulated at high speeds in a loop between the two hydrants. The water is filtered through bag filters before being pumped back into Western’s system. Western is excited to implement the NO-DES flushing system to address necessary maintenance in a more efficient way.

We do not expect this to occur during the flushing process. In the event you draw discolored water into your home, flush a cold tap only a few minutes, up to 15 minutes maximum. If you continue to experience any quality issues or concerns, contact Western’s Customer Service team at 951.571.7104.

To keep crews as safe as possible, work must be performed during the daylight hours. Daylight work also provides better visibility to see when all the sediment has been flushed out and the water is running clear.