Unidirectional Flushing

Thomas F. Clark
Monroe County Water Authority

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 1

 Introduction
 Why bother to flush ?
 What is unidirectional flushing?
 What are the benefits of unidirectional
flushing?

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 2

 Flushing….why bother?
 Customer complaints on “stale” water.
 Low chlorine residuals.
 Dead ends.
 Distribution system chemistry changes.
 Loss of “C” factor.
 Sediments/corrosion products.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 3

 Where do sediments come from?
 Everything from microscopic debris
from the finished water leaving the
plant, to material brought into the
system from main repair and tank
outflows to the corrosion of cast iron
pipe.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 4

 What are some of the other factors which
cause water to degrade?
 Age
 Poorly managed storage facilities
 Biofilm/microbial growth
 Nitrification
 Cross-connections/backflow
 Permeation/leaching

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 5

 Flushing….why bother?
 High flow events or main breaks within
the system will eventually cause
problems with turbidity.
 Low flow mains will eventually lead to
taste and odor problems, iron and
sediment accumulation, etc.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 6

 Flushing….why bother?
 Periodically remove biofilm.
 Maintain/increase disinfectant residual.
 A chance to exercise valves and
hydrants.
 Respond to consumer complaints.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 7

 Flushing……
 There are a number of reasons NOT to
flush…..
 Water availability
 Time and people
 Cost of water
 Property damage
 Complaints from consumers CAUSED by
flushing.
 Other job tasks that are waiting to be done.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 8

 Spot Flushing
 Historically, spot flushing has been done.
Generally, flushing velocities of < 5 fps are
used.
 Often this is done in conjunction with other
maintenance tasks associated with hydrants
and valves.
 Random opening of hydrants – often not in an
organized manner.
 Does not have a lasting beneficial effect.
 BUT it is quick and easy !!!!

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 9

 Procedures…..
 Normally, one opens a hydrant and hopes for
a sufficient pipeline velocity.
 Or, a sufficient number of hydrants are
opened to raise pipeline flow.
 Discharge water until it runs clear.
 Inspect the hydrant.
 Maybe conduct water quality checks such as
turbidity, chlorine residual, clarity.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 10

 Unidirectional Flushing
 Water flows in one direction only.
 Method is systematic and pre-planned.
 Produces more effective scouring.
 Use less water in general.
 Improved quality is longer lasting.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 11

 Principles of Unidirectional
Flushing
 Work outwards from a clean source of water.
 Use a prearranged pattern.
 Work from a large diameter main to a small
diameter main.
 Close valves where necessary to ensure that
flow is from a clean source on a one way
path and to isolate pipe sections.
 Flush until water reaches your target water
quality.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 12

 Principles of Unidirectional
Flushing
 Maintain 20 psi system pressure
everywhere.
 Ensure that a sufficient flow rate is
achieved to produce a pipeline flow
velocity of 4- 5 ft/second.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 13

 Pipeline Velocities at Various Flushing
rates
GPM 6 inch 8 inch 12 inch 16 inch
250 2.8 fps 1.6 fps 0.7 fps 0.4 fps
500 5.6 fps 3.2 fps 1.4 fps 0.8 fps
750 8.4 fps 4.8 fps 2.1 fps 1.2 fps
1000 11 fps 6.4 fps 2.8 fps 1.6 fps
1250 14 fps 8.0 fps 3.6 fps 2.0 fps

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 14

 Conventional Flushing

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 Unidirectional Flushing

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 16

 Field Parameters for Flushing
Disinfectant Residual
Depends on level entering the system
Free chlorine of 0.5 mg/l – 1.0 mg/l

Turbidity
less than 2 ntu

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 17

 Field Parameters for Flushing
Volume turnover
Try to turn over 3x the pipe
diameter
Evaluate each flushing effort as
conditions dictate.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 18

 Pipeline Volume Info
 Pipe Size Volume per 1000 ft
Inches Gallons

4 653
6 1,470
8 2,610
10 4,080
12 5,875
16 10,444
18 13,218
24 23,500

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 19

 Calculate Pipeline Residence Time
 Calculate residence time (flow through)
of 1,000 LF of12 inch pipe when the
main is delivering 820 gpm.

 Since we have 1000 ft of 12 inch pipe, we’re talking

about 5,875 gallons of water that needs to be
displaced.
 5,875 gallons/flow rate = residence time
 5,875 gallons/820 gallons/min = 7.2 minutes

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 20

 Impact of unidirectional flushing

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 Impacts on the Environment
From Flushing
 Watch for free/total chlorine levels
 Neutralize chlorine by use of sodium sulfite,
sodium bisulfite, sodium thiosulfate, etc.
 Don’t use excessive sulfite chemical as it will
create an oxygen demand in receiving waters.
 Watch for TSS levels
 Impound sediment laden water to allow for
settling prior to discharge. Catch basin sumps,
lagoons, sand bagging on a road, etc are options.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 22

 General Considerations in
Flushing/Flowing Water
 Ten States Standards

 8.1.1 - Pressure - The system shall be designed to

maintain a minimum pressure of 20 psi at ground
level at all points in the distribution system under
all conditions of flow.
 Hydrants should be spaced from 350 ft – 600 ft
depending on the nature of the area.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 23

 Needed Fire Flow for a System
 For one and 2 family dwellings not
exceeding two stories, we use the
following flows:
 Distance between Buildings Needed Fire Flow

 Over 100 ft 500 gpm

31 ft – 100 ft 750 gpm
11 ft – 30 ft 1,000 gpm
less than 10 ft 1,500 gpm

Ref: AWWA Manual M-31

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 24

 A Cautionary Note…..
 Flushing will result in increased flow
velocities…..
 Increased flow velocities in the water
mains result in reduced system
pressures….that means
 You need to be aware of the concept of
the hydraulic grade line.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 25

 Hydraulic Grade Line
 What is it?
 It’s the level that water would rise in a
thin glass column were you to tap such
a glass tube into your main.

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 26

Hydraulic Grade
Line
Friction loss

Pump head
added

50 psi

PRV
85 psi 60 psi

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 55 psi
7 psi

35 psi

(20 psi
in main)
 Elevation + (Pressure x 2.31) = HGL

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 31

 Elevation + (Pressure x 2.31) = HGL

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 32

 Fire Flow Test

Residual Hydrant Flow Hydrant

70 psi Static
19 psi Pitot
50 psi Residual

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 33

 69.3 feet = V2 / 64.4
30 psi = 69.3 feet
V = 66.8 fps

Pitot
Pressure

P = 30 psi (- 10 % P = 0 psi
)
V=0 V = 60 fps

Q=VxA
Q = 920 gpm

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 34

 Fire Flow Calculation
 Conduct Flow Test
Qtest  29  CD 2 Ppitot

 Extrapolate flow at desired residual

pressure
0.54
 Pstatic  Pfire 
Q fire  Qtest  
 Pstatic  Ptest 
01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 35
Example Resid.
70 psi 50 psi

20 psi
Press.

 Static pressure = 70 psi

 Residual Pressure = 50 psi 0 gpm 750 gpm 1230 gpm
 Pitot Pressure = 19 psi Hydrant Flow
 Actual Flow Rate

29  0 .95  ( 2.5) 2 19  750 gpm

 Fire Flow at 20 psi

0.54
 70 static  20 fire 
750     1,230 gpm
 70 static  50 test 
 Where to Get More
Information
 Other training sessions
 List books, articles, electronic sources
 Consulting services, other sources

01/14/23 AWWA Seminar 37