Fire hydrants in Afton covered during maintenance

AFTON - A strange sight on sidewalks across Afton: fire hydrants covered by black plastic bags. It might seem like a prank, but it’s actually a reminder from SIRWA to not use the hydrants while they’re performing scheduled maintenance to the city’s water tower.

Afton’s Volunteer Fire Department is aware of the hydrants being inoperable and have a map of hydrants on the edges of the city which can be used in an emergency.

SIRWA contracts Maguire to perform regular inspections and repainting of SIRWA’s 40 water towers. This year, the Afton tower is on the list for a scheduled painting and inspection. The process involves draining the tower.

Condensation on the outside of a glass doesn’t just happen on the porch during a summer day; it happens in water towers all the time. When the tower is repainted, condensation would cause problems with the paint adhering to the tower.

Inspection of the interior of the tower involves a deep cleaning.

“They will power wash the interior, clean any deposits and remove any dirt and finally disinfect,” Chad Mahan, SIRWA Operations Manager, said.

After the maintenance is complete, SIRWA will perform additional tests with water samples to ensure safety.

The project shouldn’t last long; SIRWA expects the project to be completed within the next couple weeks, as long as the weather doesn’t interfere.