The Citrus County Utilities Department has begun a water-valve maintenance program in the Citrus Springs and Pine Ridge area.

The procedure will stretch over several months, the county says, and will later include maintenance for other county-owned systems.

Valves must be routinely opened and closed (a process known as "exercising", as part of a proactive maintenance program. Ensuring that water main valves are functional is essential to maintaining good water quality, assuring valves are left in their full open position so that the county can provide adequate flows for customers and the local fire departments, as well as to be able to quickly isolate leaks during occasional line breaks.

Residents will notice there will be more county utilities trucks on the roads because of this maintenance program. Citrus County Utility staff will continue to exercise these valves on a scheduled basis to ensure their dependability.

For more information about the project, call Frank Sanderson at (352) 527-7650.