The Austin Fire Department began its annual hydrant flushing program Monday in downtown Austin.

Austin Fire Chief Dan Wilson said the project should take three weeks.

Roughly 250 hydrants will be flushed in a routine taking Monday through Saturday during the three-week period. There will be no Sunday hydrant flushing, according to the fire chief.

The fire department focuses on flushing the hydrants one quadrant per year, with the northeast quadrant chosen for 2009.

Because the flushing process pulls accumulated sediment through pipes, residents could see sediment coming from their tap water.

Residents are advised not to operate clothes washers, while the hydrant flushing takes place.

The fire chief said the department has a rust remover than can help remove stains from clothes.

“We have to flush the hydrants to make sure that they work, when we need them in times of fire emergencies,” Wilson said.

Any defects found in the hydrants will be repaired by Austin Utilities.

There are more than 1,000 fire hydrants in the city of Austin.

Wilson said the hydrant flushing project has been going on for 15 years.