Oak Park Fire Department crews will be inspecting, flushing and measuring flow rates on all 1,240 fire hydrants in the village this summer to ensure proper operation.
Testing, a routine procedure, started in early May and is expected to continue through the end of September, according to village officials. Inspections will also ensure hydrants are accessible and undamaged.
After a hydrant is inspected nearby, residents could notice cloudy water, according to village officials, but it should clear after a few minutes.
Children playing in a hydrant can be seriously injured due to the force of the water stream, according to the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority. The flow can even knock an adult down.
To test a fire hydrant, crews attach a short hose with a diverter to the device, according to village officials. The hose and diverter ensure water does not damage landscaping.
A gauge records water flow which is then compared to data from the previous five years, according to officials. Fire department officials say this comparison can help identify problems in the water supply system.