The Jamestown Board of Public Utilities plans to flush Falconer water mains tonight and Friday depending on water levels Thursday morning.

An announcement will be made today regarding the ability to flush this evening. The originally-scheduled May 4 Falconer flushing was cancelled due to high water levels.

If possible, the village flushing will take place after 8 p.m. Thursday, overnight into Friday. Flushing is expected to be completed by the noon hour on Friday.

Customers are reminded that the flushing process can be expected to create discolored water in Falconer and on the north side of Jamestown.

The main precaution that customers may take during water main flushing is to check for discolored water before doing laundry and to avoid pulling water into a hot water tank.

The BPU also suggests putting aside water for cooking or drinking a day or so ahead of flushing day because the discolored water is safe but unappetizing in appearance.

Should discolored water enter the household, it can be expected to clear in 12 to 24 hours.

The BPU provides a free commercial rust/iron stain remover for laundry, at no cost to water customers, at the BPU Customer Service Office, 92 Steele St.; at the Jamestown City Clerk’s Office and at the town and village offices in Ellicott and Falconer.

If laundry is washed by mistake in discolored water, do not dry the clothes; instead, after the water clears, rewash the laundry in the stain remover before drying.

Overall, it is safe to use and flush toilets during the process unless the BPU is flushing directly on a customer’s street as pressure surges could occur.

The BPU flushes water lines twice a year to remove sediment that may gather in water lines.

As flushing occurs, employees also check on the condition of the hydrant and can fix any problems that they may find.

Water main flushing is a normal process used throughout the state.

The BPU prefers flushing to clean the lines instead of adding chemicals to the water.

BPU Water customers with questions concerning flushing should contact the Flushing Hotline at 661-1688 or BPU Communications at 661-1680.