The History of Hydro-Guard

Most water distribution systems have areas where there are water lines that may not have sufficient demands to keep the detention time short enough to maintain minimum disinfectant residuals. Failure to maintain a minimum disinfectant residual in water lines, in addition to being a violation of State and Federal standards, also contributes to the conditions that favor growth of biofilms within the distribution lines.

Long-term exposure to low disinfectant residual conditions within a water pipeline not only favors the potential for biofilm growth, it increases the demand for disinfectant and makes it more difficult for operators to maintain desired minimum disinfectant residual levels.

A recognized solution to this water quality problem within water distribution systems is periodic flushing of the pipelines. This process allows for the turn-over of water in the line, thus flushing the water that has a low disinfectant residual and the biofilm from the inside surface of the pipe.

Unidirectional Flushing is the traditional method used to perform required periodic flushing for biofilm removal.  Since its introduction more than 11 years ago, Advanced Maintenance Flushing has developed into a widely accepted, and in many cases preferred, alternative method to unidirectional flushing. 

Through the introduction of automation by way of automatic and programmable flushing systems, such as the Hydro-Guard® line of products, the process of Advanced Maintenance Flushing has proven to be a far more economical alternative to traditional flushing processes that have included the use of fire hydrants.

Advanced Maintenance Flushing minimizes disinfectant residual conditions in water distribution systems by providing periodic flushing on a consistent and regulated basis in order to maintain the water quality in the distribution system between flushing events. Advocates of this philosophy, including hundreds of municipal water distribution utilities throughout the U.S. and Canada, have concluded that smaller volumes of water can be used on a more frequent basis to maintain a minimum disinfectant residual that in turn results in a reduction in the growth rate of biofilms resulting in a reduced disinfectant demand within the pipeline. A reduced disinfectant demand in the pipeline in turn results in a longer detention time allowed prior to the loss of disinfectant residual within the pipeline.

Implementation of Advanced Maintenance Flushing also results in the use of lower volumes of water purged per flush event; therefore utilities can benefit by utilizing less labor and reducing its reliance on resources, thus lowering operational costs associated with the maintenance of a flushing program.

From the theory of Advanced Maintenance Flushing was born the Hydro-Guard® brand, now a part of the Mueller® family of water distribution products, which today represents the leading authority on Advanced Maintenance Flushing and the leading brand of automatic and programmable flushing devices utilized in the implementation of this process.

Hydro-Guard® offers thousands of automatic and programmable flushing systems for use in the automation of the potable water distribution line flushing programs for utilities in the U.S., Canada and abroad.  We also have available a complete line of bacteriological sampling stations (the Safety-Guard® BOSS Blow Off Sample Stations) and distribute an extensive line of pedestal and wall mount enclosures—the Safety-Guard® Enclosure line by Hydro-Guard®.

At Hydro-Guard® we are listening.  We are committed to building products that are made to last.  But most importantly, we are striving to ensure you are satisfied with our service, our products and our care before, during and after the sale.