116 3rd St SE
Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
Overnight water outage planned in area near Kirkwood
Hydrant and valve leak lead to repairs starting about 3 a.m.
CEDAR RAPIDS — Due to a hydrant and valve leak, homes and businesses near Kirkwood Boulevard SW and Oklahoma Avenue SW in Cedar Rapids will experience water outages overnight that may last until 11 a.m. Saturday.
Contractors are working toward a 3 a.m. Saturday shut-off, which the city said could last for six or eight hours. While some customers would lose water entirely during that time, other would see a loss of pressure.
The city provided a map showing the shaded green areas where the full outage is expected, and the areas outlined in green where a reduction is expected.
The Cedar Rapids Water Division was reminding customers who are affected to flush their internal plumbing after the water line maintenance is completed.
According to the city division: “Any time water service is impacted by a brief outage, it is always a good idea to flush internal plumbing in a home or business. There may be air in the line, or cloudiness in the water associated with increased turbidity. These symptoms are expected.”
The division advised affected customers to:
- Run cold water after an outage through a faucet that does not have an aerator screen. Bathtubs and hose bibs are good candidates.
- Open faucets slowly to allow the air to escape. Air will make a spurting or hissing sound as it escapes through the faucet.
- Once the water is flowing, allow the faucet to run for up to five minutes to ensure the service line is thoroughly flushed. The first water may be cloudy due to air in the water or particles that dislodge as the pipes fill with water. The cloudiness should clear fairly quickly.
- It may take up to 48 hours for the turbidity to settle down once the system is restored to normal configuration. Continue to run cold water through a faucet daily until these symptoms go away.
- If kitchen or bathroom faucets do not perform normally following a water outage, it may be necessary to remove the aerator screen. Typically, the aerator can simply be unscrewed from the faucet. Inspect the screen for small particles and rinse away any you find. Reinstall the aerator and test performance of the faucet again.
- If you experience difficulties, such as low pressure throughout the house following a water outage, call Utilities Water Division at 319-286-5900 for assistance during regular business hours.
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