Harbour Heights hydrant flow part of $50M water system upgrade

HARBOUR HEIGHTS, Fla. (WINK) — Water flowing for weeks from a fire hydrant at the intersection of Broadpoint Drive and Washington Street in Harbour Heights is part of a controlled system maintenance process, according to the Charlotte Harbor Water Association.

Superintendent Scott Baker said the flushing activity is tied to a more than $50 million infrastructure improvement program currently underway. The system-wide upgrades include installing new water mains, constructing a deep well injection system, and modernizing the water treatment plant. When completed, the upgraded facility is expected to be one of the most advanced water treatment systems in Southwest Florida.

As part of the project, the existing water treatment plant has been temporarily shut down. During this phase, the utility is purchasing treated potable water from Charlotte County to maintain uninterrupted service. The association expects to receive purchased water through mid-April 2026, when the upgraded plant is anticipated to return to full operation.

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The water supplied by the county comes through the Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority and is sourced from regional surface water. Officials said it is not connected to local residential groundwater wells.

According to the water association, the hydrant at Broadpoint Dr. and Washington St. is located at a dead-end section of the distribution system where water demand is low. Low-flow conditions can allow water to stagnate. The utility said it is conducting controlled, low-flow hydrant flushing in the area to circulate water through the system, maintain disinfectant levels, prevent sediment buildup, and protect overall water quality.

The association said the flushing does not draw from or impact private residential wells because the water being discharged is treated surface water purchased from the county system.

Officials acknowledged the prolonged flow may cause temporary pooling or muddy conditions. However, they said the flushing is a proactive measure to maintain safe drinking water standards.

The utility also stated that residents will not see an increase in their water bills as a result of the hydrant flushing, as the activity is part of routine system maintenance and is not billed to customers.

The infrastructure project is expected to improve long-term system reliability and water quality once completed in 2026.