Jenny Lind, CA…Cal Fire crews fighting the Waverly Fire are pumping thousands of gallons of water from CCWD hydrants in Jenny Lind to fill water tenders and fire engines combating the fast-moving Waverly Fire. Firefighters are drawing such a large volume of water from CCWD’s system, that some customers in Jenny Lind are experiencing low water pressures and discolored water.

As long as firefighters are drawing heavily from CCWD’s hydrants in Jenny Lind, customers will likely continue to experience low water pressure. This will improve once the fire has been contained and firefighters reduce the amount of water they are taking from the system.

Discolored water can occur when water is pumped from hydrants at a high volume, which speeds up the water flow in the pipes and scours minerals from the inside walls of the pipe. While these minerals do cause the water to become discolored, the water is still completely safe to drink and there is no risk to public health. If customers to experience discolored water, they can open an outside faucet on the lowest point on their property and run it until the water runs clear.

CCWD water treatment plant operators are keeping a close eye on the firefighters’ water supply needs and are making sure the tanks feeding the hydrants in Jenny Lind have enough water to continue supporting the firefighting effort. The District’s water supply system is capable of providing consistent fire flows from hydrants, which is critical to helping firefighters successfully put out wildfires.

The District is grateful to the firefighters who are working so hard to protect community members and their property from the Waverly Fire’s destruction.