Starting on July 18th Sudbury Water District will begin installing hydrants and gate valves on dead-end water mains at various points in Town. This project will not only will improve water quality by removing stagnant water, but will allow for an added layer of protection in the event of a fire emergency.

WHY ELIMINATING DEAD-END MAINS IS IMPORTANT

As water ages, disinfectant residuals decline and disinfectant by-products (DBPs) increase, which can pose a health risk. As uncirculated water stands in the water-mains dead-end, chlorine used to disinfect drinking water can react with organic and inorganic constituents in sediment and on the pipe wall, causing the chlorine residual to be consumed:

• Low chlorine residuals provide conditions where microbial growth can increase;
• Chlorine may have more contact with natural organic matter, increasing the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs);
• Water that is stagnant in dead-end mains can increase in temperature, contributing to increased microbial growth and DBPs formation and;
• Changes in water chemistry associated with water age can enhance biofilm growth on pipe and tank walls and allow opportunistic pathogens to proliferate.

By installing hydrant’s on the dead-end water mains we improve water quality in these areas by adding a source to remove stagnant water through semi-annual flushing.

FIRE SAFETY
Hydrant’s play a vital role in firefighting by providing a steady and reliable supply of water during a fire emergency.

   FISCAL YEAR 2025 DEAD-END HYDRANT & GATE VALVE PROJECT SCHEDULE