ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – The Ithaca Fire Department has begun its annual hydrant testing.

Assistant Chief Jim Wheal says the work will be conducted on the city’s South Side between West Seneca Street and Elmira Road over the next four-and-a-half months.

The maintenance work is designed to ensure that all fire hydrants within the city are functioning properly and able to provide adequate water flow in the event of a fire.

Residents within the work area may experience temporary fluctuations in water pressure and discoloration. Officials say the discoloration does not affect the safety of the water and is primarily made up of harmless minerals that have been built up in the system over time. You can run your cold tap water at the lowest point of your home until it clears up.

The project is scheduled to be completed by October 1.

Questions? Call the Ithaca Fire Department at (607)-272-1234.