FAQs • City of Rosemount, MN • CivicEngage

Why does my water have an unpleasant (sulfur) odor? How can I get rid of that?: The most common reason for the odor is stagnant water in your plumbing system, particularly within the hot water heater. The best way to eliminate the odor is to purge your plumbing system by completely emptying your hot water heater. To accomplish this, turn on the hot water at all faucets in your home, including bath and shower faucets. When the hot water has completely drained, and there is a slight chlorine smell coming from the faucet farthest away from your home’s water intake pipe, your system has been cleaned and new water is now entering your home from the water main. This process may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, and use between 40 to 150 gallons of water, depending on the size of your hot water heater.

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Public Works - Water Services

2. What causes low water pressure in my home?: A reduction in water pressure may be the result of your water softener not working properly. To check your softener, adjust the manual bypass valve so the water will not flow through the softener. If your pressure improves, your softener probably needs to be cleaned or serviced. If your water pressure does not improve, check the valves on the water line coming into your home to make sure they are open all the way. If pressure is still low, you may contact the Public Works department at (651) 322-2022.

3. What causes discolored water?: Iron and manganese, harmless minerals that occur naturally in well water, can cause discoloration. A malfunctioning water softener may also cause discoloration. In the spring, routine hydrant flushing may stir up deposits within the pipes, resulting in rusty/discolored water. This can be cleared up by turning on all the cold water faucets (including bath and shower) at the same time and letting them run for a few minutes to clear the lines. Discolored water is perfectly safe for consumption and bathing. You should avoid doing laundry until the discoloration clears up. If you have a load that was washed during the discoloration, do not put it in the dryer. You should rewash the items as soon as possible after you have flushed your faucets.

4. Why does my water have an unpleasant (sulfur) odor? How can I get rid of that?: The most common reason for the odor is stagnant water in your plumbing system, particularly within the hot water heater. The best way to eliminate the odor is to purge your plumbing system by completely emptying your hot water heater. To accomplish this, turn on the hot water at all faucets in your home, including bath and shower faucets. When the hot water has completely drained, and there is a slight chlorine smell coming from the faucet farthest away from your home’s water intake pipe, your system has been cleaned and new water is now entering your home from the water main. This process may take anywhere from 5 to 30 minutes, and use between 40 to 150 gallons of water, depending on the size of your hot water heater.

5. When and why are hydrants flushed?: All hydrants are flushed in the spring to ensure that water lines are working properly, and to remove iron deposits from the lines. Hydrant flushing occurs after the first street sweeping operation in order to minimize the amount of winter salt and sand that is washed into the storm sewer system. During flushing, it is normal to notice a temporary drop in water pressure and some water discoloration. Please see the water discoloration FAQ for more information.