Hillsborough residents may see some changes in their water temporarily this week.

The Town of Hillsborough personnel will flush and perform basic maintenance to fire hydrants in the town's water system beginning Thursday.

The town typically releases water from hydrants twice a year to remove sediments, helping maintain the water system's  circulation and water quality. About 6 million gallons of water - four to five days of supply - will be used for flushing.

The inspections and maintenance will take place through mid-October.

Town staff will open each hydrant to flush the water system, will lubricate hydrants and will identify any follow-up repair needs.

During the process, town personnel may be required to trim plantings or remove other items to ensure that adequate access to the hydrants exists  during emergencies and for maintenance.

Citizens may be asked to relocate plants and other items in street rights-of-way to allow a clear, 3-foot-wide area around a hydrant. Even if a citizen does not receive a request to remove an item near a hydrant, the town encourages everyone with a hydrant in the adjacent street right-of-way and property owners with private fire hydrants to ensure that hydrants are accessible.

Care should be given to assure that any plants which are relocated in the right-of-way do not interfere with visibility of vehicles, pedestrians, cyclists and traffic signs and do not interfere with utilities or street drainage. Property owners should obtain permission from the town before making landscape improvements, such as plantings, within the street right-of-way.

Opening the hydrants might cause some temporary cloudiness or discoloration of water. Discoloration can occur because small particles of iron and manganese that have settled in a water main may be stirred up. The discoloration does not make water unsafe to drink, but it could discolor fabric. Similarly, when air bubbles enter the water system during the hydrant flushing, they may cause cloudiness in drinking water.

If discoloration or air bubbles appear in the water, customers should run cold water in a bathtub for a few minutes until the water and/or air bubbles clear. If the water does not clear within five minutes, contact the town at 732-2104 during normal business hours or at 732-3621 for emergencies during nights and weekends.