Water Restored in North Adams After Main Break
 A hose connects hydrants on two separate lines Sunday to ensure enough water pressure after the city lost a 24-inch main on Saturday. |
At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 10, a 24-inch water main was broken next to the Hoosic River near Avon Street.
Several weeks ago, it was brought to our attention that this main had been exposed due to serious erosion caused by Hurricane Irene. The DPW added this fix to the list of Irene-related incidents. The project was bid and approved with the work to be done by D.R. Billings, Inc.
After checking the water maps, it was determined by the City that the line in the river and in question was an "abandoned" line and had not been in service for many years. The City passed that information to the contractor.
The project work began late last week and was progressing through Saturday mid-day. When the contractor began removing the pipe it was obvious that the pipe was still live. This caused a major flow issue and reduced service to a very large portion of the City and into Williamstown.
Tim Lescarbeau, commissioner of Public Services, immediately responded to alarms at the Water Treatment Plant and Water Department employees were dispatched. While the break was not able to be fixed, crews scrambled to shut "gates" at certain locations that would divert water back into the system.
Within a short period of time, the West End of the City and Williamstown service was restored. The NAPD called in an additional dispatcher to handle the overwhelming volume of calls. It was established that our hospital, nursing home and other at risk facilities had water. NAPD posted updates on their Facebook page and I posted to Facebook and provided updates to local media outlets.
Despite best efforts, much of the City was without water until after 9 p.m. and as of this writing (11:00 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 11) Wheel Estates and the Walnut Street area is just being restored. Crews continue to work establish balanced flow throughout the City, additionally checking on "at risk" locations.
Because of the break, most restaurants and businesses were closed on Saturday night.
While much has been done, this issue will not be fully resolved until the main in the west end is repaired. I will be meeting with Commissioner Lescarbeau and D.R. Billings to hear their assessments and recommendations. Once a solution is determined, it will be implemented immediately. I am certain that it will be several days before the system is fully repaired and is back to full capacity.
I want to extend my thanks to all city workers for their hard work and dedication. Several of whom worked around the clock to assure water restoration to users.
Update at 8:30 a.m., Sunday: Water has been restored to most of the city but some sections, including Wheel Estates, are still experiencing no or low pressure. City DPW crews have been working through the night to tie high pressure lines back in. Those still experiencing trouble should post on Mayor Alcombright's Facebook page. He sent this message at 8:30:
"There are still several areas of the city without water or with low pressure. DPW is aware of all the problem spots — Wheel Estates, Oak, Walnut and others — I have been told that water to East Road is now restored so Wheel Estates should see something fairly soon [and] our crews are in touch with their maintenance staff.
"Without getting into the logistics, crews are tying high-pressure sections into the lower-pressure sections as we speak. I will continue to update as I am in constant contact with DPW. I have asked folks on FB to please continue to post trouble spots. "As for low pressure, I am told pressure will continue to build as the system continues to refresh."
Update at 12:38 a.m., Sunday: Water is returning but at low pressure. Mayor Alcombright is asking residents to be cautious in terms of using the water for drinking. It is likely to roiled and murky. Crews are flushing hydrants; sanders were out but it could be icy around hydrants.
Update at 6:37 p.m.: "This has been a very tough fix and a very unfortunate break...I am hoping that water will be restored by 9:00 p.m.," according to Mayor Richard Alcombright
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — A major water main break in the city's West End left a large part of the city and the east end Williamstown without water for hours on Saturday.
Crews have been working on containing the break but it may be until 7 or 8 before water is restored. It may be longer for some homes on Massachusetts Avenue Extension. The police ask that residents not tie up the 911 line to report water being out.
"[A] major water break in the West End of the City which has shut off the water in most of the city - City crews have identified the issue and are working to resolve," the mayor sent in an email at about 3:30. "It may be several hours until water is restored — I will continue to provide updates as I receive them — thank you for your patience ... ."
The city lost pressure when contractors removed what was thought to be a "dead pipe" at Avon Street on Saturday afternoon. The work was being done to repair a major riverbank washout caused by Hurricane Irene in August.
"From everything we knew, it was a dead pipe," said Alcombright this evening after pressure had been restored to parts of the West End and Williamstown. He said the pipe was shown as being shut off in the city's engineering maps.
Avon and Alton streets, off Route 2 east of Roberts Drive, no longer exist. Their homes were demolished some years ago because of contamination from the former Sprague Electric.
Crews then began working on gates along the pipeline to stifle the flow out of the broken pipe but the process has been taking time, said Alcombright. "We have every possible person with any kind of water experience out there working."
Restaurants and taverns affected by the water shutoff are closed; some may open if the water comes back on early enough. Main Street is reportedly dark as most businesses have closed.
Once the water comes back on, residents should expect it to be murky and roiled. Letting the tap run should clear it.
Tags: water,
