Streets on Bainbridge Island may be appear more like flowing streams over the next month, but it won’t be from heavy spring rains.

The city’s public works department has started its annual water flushing program.

“The purpose of the flushing primarily is to remove naturally occurring sediments that settle in the pipes over time, so the quality of the water is maintained,” said Public Works Director Lance Newkirk.

The public works department does such flushing every year before heavy water use in the summer.

The flushing work will be strategically carried out through the end of May.

“There really is an art to it,” Newkirk said. “You have to start at the beginning and move outward in the system.”

Newkirk said that during the flushing program, some discoloration in residents’ tap water may occur, as well even low pressure.

If that happens, residents should run their water for about 15 minutes until the problem clears.

If other problems arise, Newkirk said to call the public works department.

Notifications on areas scheduled to be flushed are posted on the public works’ website.