Water Events

We routinely flush the water

As part of our regular maintenance, we flush the pipes in our water system to remove rust and sediment, which helps you consistently receive clean, reliable water. Flushing forces high-velocity water to flow through the pipes and out through fire hydrants. Along with deep cleaning the inside of water mains (pipes), this also helps us find and repair certain valves and hydrants before they cause problems and refresh the water. 

If you experience discolored water or sediment after a planned flushing event, remove aerators from your faucets and run the cold water for three to five minutes. We also recommend that your first load of laundry after a water flushing is dark clothes only  

We plan water outages

Planned water outages happen when our crews need to maintain or repair water pipes or when new construction is happening in an area. Before we restore water service after a planned outage, we fill and flush the area and then test and treat the water to ensure your water continues to be clean and reliable.   

After a planned water outage, we recommend waiting a few hours before running your water. If you waited a few hours and the water still comes out discolored, run cold water in a bathtub without faucet aerators attached.   

When something interrupts a water main or pipe, it can cause an unplanned water event. For example, if a water main breaks or a fire hydrant gets used in your area, it can stir up sediment that settles at the bottom of the pipe. While it may look unsafe, the sediment contains river particles, which are harmless.   
   
After an unplanned event, remove aerators from your faucets and run the cold water for three to five minutes. We also recommend your first load of laundry after a water flushing be dark clothes.   
   
If you experience a water quality issue (such as discolored water, low pressure, etc.,) avoid using water for one or two hours and call 253-502-8344 to report it.   

Water emergencies are a public health concern that may require boiling or not using water. We will provide specific information and instructions on our website during a water emergency. If you get impacted by a water event, you can visit one of our bottle filling stations to get water.  

1.  Login to MyAccount. (If you haven’t created a profile yet, you will need your TPU account number and the first and last name on the account to do so.)
2. Go to the black “Quick Links” heading on the right (middle of the page) and click on “Notification preferences.”
3. You are now on the Notifications page. You will see a section labeled “Water Outage notifications” and a drop-down menu. Click the drop-down menu and choose how you want to receive notifications.
4. You can also sign up for leak notifications by choosing a notification option next to the “Residential Water leak notification” heading.
5. After updating your notification preferences, scroll down and select “Save Changes.”