You turn on a tap after seeing a fire hydrant being flushed nearby and the water looks cloudy, yellow or rusty. That can be unsettling, especially when it is the water you normally drink and cook with.
The Town of Collingwood says its spring and fall hydrant flushing, as well as scheduled flushing of dead-end hydrants during the year, can temporarily make water look cloudy or coloured. The Town says the water remains safe during this maintenance and that the appearance should clear if you leave a cold-water tap running for a short time. Check the Town’s Water Services Information for its current guidance.
Why can water look different after hydrant flushing?
Flushing is routine maintenance to help keep fire hydrants operating properly. When water flow changes in a watermain, mineral deposits or other settled material can be disturbed. Air in the water can also make clear water look milky or cloudy for a short time.
The timing can offer a clue: if the change starts during or soon after nearby hydrant work and more than one cold tap is affected, the municipal system may be involved. It is a clue, not proof. A home plumbing issue, water heater, filter or other work can also affect what comes out of a tap.
What to do first
1. Check whether flushing or other water work is happening
Look for a notice from the Town, or contact Water Services to ask about work on your street. The Town flushes hydrants across Collingwood during spring and fall maintenance and flushes dead-end hydrants on a regular schedule during the year, so not every visit will line up with a seasonal notice.
If neighbours on the same street notice a similar change, tell the Town. That information can help staff understand whether the issue is limited to one property or may involve the local watermain.
2. Run a cold-water tap briefly
Collingwood’s advice is to leave a cold-water tap running for a short time until the water clears. If practical, use a tub or laundry cold-water tap rather than a small faucet with an aerator. Keep an eye on the water as it runs and stop once it looks clear; there is no need to let it run longer than necessary.
Use cold water for this check. Once the water looks and smells normal, you can return to your usual use. If it does not clear after a short run, pause and contact the Town for advice instead of running a large volume of water down the drain.
3. Hold off on laundry and appliances until it clears
Wait until the water is clear before washing white or light-coloured laundry, making ice, or running a dishwasher or other appliance that uses water. This avoids staining and keeps visibly discoloured water out of equipment. If you already started a load and it became stained, check the clothing-care label and use a suitable laundry treatment; do not put stained items in a dryer until you have checked whether the stain has lifted.
4. Compare cold and hot water, and check more than one tap
See whether the change affects one fixture or several, and whether it is in cold water, hot water or both. If only one tap is affected, the aerator or nearby plumbing may be involved. If only the hot water looks different, the water heater or hot-water plumbing may need attention. If several cold taps are affected around the same time as flushing, contact the Town to confirm whether municipal work could be related.
Do not take apart a water meter, municipal valve or hydrant. Those are not homeowner flushing points.
Is cloudy water the same as coloured water?
Not always. Cloudiness that looks white or milky may be tiny air bubbles. As a simple check, pour cold water into a clear glass and let it sit for a few minutes. If the cloudiness fades as bubbles rise, air may be contributing to the appearance. Collingwood’s guidance still recommends running a cold tap briefly after hydrant flushing.
Yellow, brown or rusty-looking water is different from clear water that appears milky. If visible colour or particles remain after a short cold-water flush, do not assume the cause is hydrant flushing. Contact the Town’s Water Department for guidance. If there is an active water-quality notice, follow the notice’s instructions.
The Town says water affected by its hydrant flushing is safe, but it is sensible to report water that remains coloured, contains visible sediment, has an unusual odour, or does not match the Town’s flushing guidance. The Town can help determine whether it needs to investigate the municipal system.
When to call the Town of Collingwood
Contact Water Services if the water does not clear after a short cold-water run, if several homes are affected, if the colour returns, or if you notice sediment, unusual odour, low pressure or an interruption in service. Ask whether hydrant flushing, watermain work or another service issue is underway.
The Town’s spring 2026 hydrant notice directs questions to the Water Department at 705-445-1030, ext. 3320, or waterwastewater@collingwood.ca. Check the Town’s website for the latest contact details and advisories.
When you report it, be ready to share your street or address, when the change began, which taps are affected, whether it is hot or cold water, and whether neighbours have noticed it too. A photo of the water in a clear glass may also help describe what you are seeing.
When it may be a home plumbing issue
If the Town confirms there is no related work, or the problem affects only one fixture or only hot water, the cause may be inside the home. A clogged faucet screen, aging pipe, water treatment device or water heater can contribute to changes at an individual property. A plumber can inspect the home’s plumbing and help narrow down the cause.
If several cold taps remain affected, or the water changes again after running clear, call the Town first so the municipal side can be checked. This helps avoid treating a system-wide issue as a fixture problem.
Frequently asked questions
Is cloudy or coloured water safe after hydrant flushing in Collingwood?
The Town of Collingwood says water remains safe during its hydrant-flushing maintenance, though it can temporarily look cloudy or coloured. The Town recommends leaving a cold-water tap running for a short time until it clears. If it stays coloured, contains sediment or has an unusual odour, contact Water Services and follow any active notice.
How long should I run the cold tap?
Collingwood’s public guidance says to run a cold-water tap for a short time but does not give a fixed number of minutes. Stop once the water clears. If it does not clear after a short run, contact the Town for advice rather than continuing to flush for a long time.
Should I use hot water to clear discoloured water?
Start with a cold-water tap, as the Town recommends. If only hot water is discoloured, contact a plumber or water-heater professional to assess the home’s hot-water system.
Can I wash clothes while the water is discoloured?
Wait until the water runs clear before starting laundry, especially whites and light colours. If the change occurs during a wash, stop the cycle if it is safe to do so and check the clothing-care label before treating any stains.
What if only one tap is cloudy or coloured?
Check another cold tap. If only one fixture is affected, the aerator or plumbing near that fixture may be contributing. If multiple cold taps are affected, or the issue coincides with flushing, check with the Town.
Does hydrant flushing happen only in spring and fall?
The Town says it flushes hydrants throughout the community as part of spring and fall maintenance, and also flushes dead-end hydrants on a regular schedule throughout the year. Check the Town’s water-services page and current notices for details.
Need help with a plumbing issue?
If the Town rules out municipal flushing and you still have a fixture, pipe or water-heater concern, Collingwood Home Plumbing can help assess the plumbing inside your home. Explore leak and pipe repair, faucet and fixture installation or water-heater repair and replacement.
Call (705) 230-0951 to discuss a plumbing concern in Collingwood and nearby communities.